Nigerian observer 27 10 2013

THE SUNDAY

The Sunday

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

CMYK

1

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968

ENVIRONMENT

• Vol. XI NO. 4,019 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 20 13 • N 100.00

RELATIONSHIP

Pg. 9

Human Population And Its Impact On The Environment

Knowing Your Husband (2) Pg. 15

Shocking Confession

Boko Haram members Are Only Armed Bandits

MALAM Bukar Modu, a detained Boko Haram member, said that the sect had nothing to do with Islam, as it was mainly involved in armed banditry, looting and killing of innocent people.

Modu, who was captured sect’s early morning attack on October 6 after the on Muslim worshippers in

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE/CONFERENCE The Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue/Conference will visit Edo State on Monday, October 28, 2013.

All stakeholders including Civil Society Groups, Traditional Rulers, Women/Youth Organisations, Religious Groups, Ethnic Nationality Groups, Professional Groups, the Judiciary, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Organised Labour, Student Leadership, Leadership of the National Assembly, Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assemblies, Organised Private Sector, the Physically Challenged, Edo in Diaspora and other interest groups are invited to make presentations at the Conference.

Damboa, Borno, said this in Maiduguri yesterday.

He told newsmen that the sect succeeded in attacking innocent people during their operations.

“We went on a mission to attack people in Damboa on October 6, few days to the last Sallah celebration.

“We shot many people but I was also shot in the

- Captured Member

leg during the operation; I later became unconscious.

“My people took me away at the end of the operation but they decided to dump me in a nearby

Continues on pg.2

FG To Use Electronic Pipeline Surveilance To Monitor Oil Theft THE Federal Government is exploring the possibility of using an electronic pipeline surveillance to track oil theft in the country,

President Goodluck Jonathan, said on Saturday.

Jonathan gave this indication in his closing remarks at a two-day oil and gas investment forum

in Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Senate President, David Mark, described the menace of oil theft as worrisome, stressing, however, that government was ready to tackle it headlong.

“Relevant regulatory agencies are working round the clock to combat the challenge, considering the strategic position of oil and gas in the economy.

• Genevieve

Continues on pg.2

Venue of the Dialogue/Conference is Imaguero College Hall, Sapele Road, Benin City from 1:00pm.

NEWS

Spiritual Attack?

All stakeholders and interest groups invited through this announcement are advised to be seated by 12:30pm.

SIGNED: DR. AKILU SANI INDABAWA Committee Secretary

bush because they thought I was dead.

“I regained my consciousness in the morning before I was

• Adedeji

Pg. 2

Nollywood Actor Commits Suicide

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

NEWS

Youths Urged To Be Committed

By RICHARD EWEKA

Sanitation Law, 1976.

Mr. Emma Aludo, the Supervisor for Health and Environment, said that the exercise was a success due to the enlightenment campaigns

by the council on the need to observe the exercise.

Aludo said that the sanitation became necessary to forestall flood and keep the environment clean, for healthy living.

THE Spiritual Leader/ General Overseer and Chairman Church Council of Christ’s Chosen Church of God International Most Snr. Apostle (Dr) Joshua Osasuyi has commended youths of the church for their commitment to activities in different location of the church.

He gave the commendation while addressing the youth during the 2013 edition of the annual youth convention of the church held at the international headquarters of the church in Benin City.

The Spiritual Leader said the youth of Benin metropolis has displayed a high level of commitment to youth activities. “Their quarterly Youth Wonder Night is a wonder to behold as amazing things often take place and lives transformed through the impactful messages from men of God. “The youth also sponsor

Continued from pg.1 apprehended by security agents, who provided food for me and took care of my bullet wounds,” he said.

Modu said that he was recruited into the sect by his cousin about a year ago.

“He used to keep his gun in our compound in Maiduguri.

One day, he said that he was not comfortable with my being outside the sect because I knew all his secrets.

“He gave me two options: to either join the sect or be killed; so, I had no other option than to join the sect,” he said.

Modu said that he was given an “express training’’ on the handling of AK 47 rifle as soon as he joined the sect.

“We were always given orders to attack individuals without questioning until we finally relocated to Marte in Marte Local Government Area of Borno during the middle of this year,” he said.

Modu said that his group comprised about 150 militants, who took refuge in a nearby bush after the military invasion of Marte camp.

“We were kept in the bush by our commanders; sometimes, we survived on filthy water because we did not have access to safe water and we barely had food to eat,” he said.

Modu said that most of the “foot soldiers’’ of the Boko Haram sect had wanted to abscond but they could not do so because of the fear of being caught and executed.

“Our commanders usually

conduct roll-calls on a daily basis to prevent anybody from running away; once you are caught, the penalty is death,” he said.

Modu said that many “foot soldiers’’, who tried to escape at the camp, were summarily

executed.

“Any time we carry out an attack in a place, we steal food, drugs, money and everything we need.

“Sometimes, I feel guilty of committing crimes against God but our commanders always tell

us that it is God’s work that we are doing.

“It is a terrible thing to be a member of the sect but many foot soldiers like me cannot leave for fear of being killed,’’ Modu added.

Continued from pg.1 “My administration has embarked on a number of farreaching measures to combat these unwholesome activities.

Government is exploring the possibility of using electronic pipeline surveillance to track down oil theft.”

While stressing that the government was putting in place mechanism to ensure that vandals found it extremely difficult to access petroleum pipelines, the president gave assurance of continuous support to an investment drive in the sector.

“To this end, I am calling on all relevant industries to ensure that all oil and gas related cargo are discharged only at the designated terminals,” he said.

The President directed that the agencies concerned should also ensure strict enforcement on the ban on the illegal discharge of cargo and receiving of vessels at private jetties.

He said that steps should be taken to guard against the breach of national security and loss of revenue.

Jonathan said the choice of the Onne oil and gas free trade zone was strategic, as it will showcase the investors’ confidence in the Nigerian economy as “seeing is

believing”.

According to him, government generated revenue in the zone has increased from $5.4 billion to $7.1 billion in 2013 and the FDI from $4 billion to $4.2 billion dollars in 2013.

“Available statistics indicate that the companies operating in the free zone have increased from 150 in 2011 to 170 in 2013, employment regeneration has increased from 30,000 in 2011 to 34,000 in 2013.

“Support to family livelihood has grown from 180,000 in 2011 to 200,000 in 2013. If these indices are not indicating an attractive environment for investors, I wonder what else they are,” he said.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, said the Oil and Gas Free Zone (OGFTZ) would continue to be a catalyst for the diversification of the economy.

the state’s determination to boost food production in the country through increased rice production.

Elechi made the pledge in Abakaliki during an interactive session with members of the “Course 22’’ of the National Defence College, Abuja, who were on a tour of the state.

The governor, who was represented by Chief Fidelis Mbam, the Secretary to the State Government, noted that increased rice production in the state and in the country, in general, would end the importation of staple food into Nigeria.

“Ebonyi is determined to contribute effectively to the country’s food security, while conserving our foreign exchange.

“This informed the establishment of three rice mill clusters in the three senatorial zones of the state to boost rice production.

“What we are saying is that Ebonyi is about to carve a niche for itself in the area of food security,” he said.

Elechi, however, said that the strength of each state of the federation should be encouraged by the Federal Government in

Most Snr Apostle Dr. Joshua Osasuyi, Spiritual Leader and Chairman Church Council, Christ Chosen Church of God International being presented a bouquet of flower at the opening of Year 2013 National Annual Youth Convention. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Mobile Court Convicts 63 In Edo For Sanitation Offences A MOBILE Court in Fugar, in the Etsako-Central Local Government Area of Edo, yesterday convicted 63 offenders for viola ting the environmental sanitation law.

The presiding judge, Mr. Lawrence Wilson, ordered that the accused persons should be remanded in prison for seven days or pay a fine of N5, 000 each, in the alternative.

“After reviewing the facts of the cases before me. I hereby convict you all with an option of N5, 000 fine each, which you must pay within seven days or go to jail.

“Your claims that you people were not aware of the environmental sanitation law is not an excuse, because every last Saturday of the month is the sanitation exercise.

“I am only sentencing you with an option of N5, 000 fine each, because you all pleaded guilty to the charge,’’ he said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr. Pius Sule, told the court that the offenders were found loitering during the sanitation exercise.

Sule, who is the Asst. Chief Environmental Health Officer of Etsako-Central local government, urged the court to punish the culprits, to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said that their offences contravened Section 12, Subsection 2, of the Edo State

Nollywood /Yoruba actor , Bolaji Amusan aka Mr. Latin’s former personal assistant, Lanre Adedeji has committed suicide in Texas, USA, where he had been living since 2012.

Lanre settled down in the US, after a tour with Mr Latin and later moved to Texas, where things got better for him.

This however changed this year, when he was said to

and embark on gospel crusades coupled with offering free health services to the sick. I want other divisions to take a cue from Benin metropolitan youths.

The leaders of these

indefatigable youths are the brain behind these success stories. I am aware that other divisions are equally doing something great” he concluded.

Maritime Academy Oron Soon To Award University Degrees THE Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom, yesterday said that it had commenced the development of its academic curriculum, to enable it award university degrees.

MAN’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sidi Mpandiok, disclosed this to maritime reporters on a one-week training in Oron.

Mpandiok said that the curriculum would be used in lecturing cadets, after the institution had become fully transformed into a maritime university.

He said that the academy had recently assembled a team of professors and doctorate degree holders, with the sole objective of evolving a curriculum for the academy, in

‘Boko Haram Are Bandits’

FG To Use Electronic Pipeline Surveilance

readiness for its new status.

“The management had assembled at TINAPA, Cross River, six professors and 12 doctorate degree holders from different universities and they are working on a curriculum for the academy,’’ he said.

According to him, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), visited MAN in September, in line with the academy’s quest to become the first maritime university in Nigeria.

He said that the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden, had been sending resource persons to MAN, Oron, to assist in preparing the institution for the award of university degrees.

“About two weeks ago, the Rector of this academy was in Turkey, in pursuit of that same goal of strengthening the academy to become a degreeawarding institution,’’ he said.

Mpandiok said that the management was determined to upgrade the academy, to enable it to admit more students.

“The academy received 10,000 applications during its last admission, but due to inadequacy of space, only 1,300 students were admitted,’’ he said.

Mpandiok urged the government to provide a training ship for the academy.

According to him, the academy currently has about 3,000 cadets running different courses, adding, however, that it was ready to admit more cadets if the facilities were expanded.

Ebonyi To Boost Rice Production efforts to actualise the goals of GOVERNOR Martin Elechi Elechi its transformation agenda. of Ebonyi, yesterday expressed

He also stressed that efforts should be made to ensure the infrastructural development of the nation, saying that this would consequently fast-track the country’s development.

He, therefore, underscored the need to increase budgetary allocations to the states.

Elechi commended the course team for choosing Ebonyi for their study tour, stressing that the state had performed creditably in efforts to develop the infrastructure.

“The secret of our success is based on the prudent management of our meagre resources.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

NEWS ANALYSIS Leaders To Review The Mode of Governance In The Country Wanted Urgently

WE will not stop talking about the plight of the majority of Nigerians who during elections are very important personalities, VIP’s, but after they have been used as ladders to get to the corridors of power and wealth they are dumped, except for some few God fearing politicians who will remember them once in a while.

The days or generation of uncompromising leaders who wanted power to improve the lot of the masses are gone, when we had veteran activists, committed crusaders and dedicated humanist who are unbending change agents from whom we should all draw eternal inspiration.

There was this story about Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa which struck me and I feel compelled to bring it to you our dear readers. It was in the year 1963 and the Prime Minister took his annual leave and was off to his village to spend it.

Then a British Photo-Journalist came along but they told him that the Prime Minister had gone on vacation and he then asked to which country, but he was shocked when they told him he went to spend the vacation in his own village.

To satisfy his curiosity, he decided to travel to the village, but on getting to the village, there was no sign that a prominent person was in town, everyone went about their normal business and the village was peacefully quiet.

Then the Photo-Journalist met a farmer along the way with his donkey carrying bales of sugarcane and he asked from the farmer the house of the Prime Minister. The Photo-Journalist was again left speechless when the farmer told him that he had just left the Prime Minister and that if he gets to the house which he described, he would meet him sitting on the bare floor with his kids enjoying the sugarcane that he gave them.

The British Photo-Journalist was dazed when he reached the house of the Prime Minister. This is the picture that he took. May the labours of our heroes past never be in vain. But today we have opportunists in power who disturb an entire city with sirens and their empty noises of vanity.

Those who loot the treasury of an entire nation and still insult our common intelligence with their embarrassing incompetence in a country which has all it takes to become the greatest nation on earth if only we have visionary, dedicated and inspiring leaders.

In this same country with poverty and unemployment rates, insecurity challenges among other problems at alarming levels, we are confronted with the stark realities of senseless squandering of the resources by the leaders, an indication that they don’t have their POVERTY is the deprivation of well being. It is the inability to satisfy ones basic needs because one lacks income to buy goods and services or from lack of access to services or essential goods. We can measure poverty through absolute, relative, mobility poverty and other ways.

Absolute poverty or destitution refers to the state of severe deprivation of basic human needs, which commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care education and information.

Relative poverty refers to as being below some relative income threshold, where this threshold differs for each society or country. One may be relatively poor, without being in the state of absolute poverty; relative poverty is often considered as an indirect measure of income inequality.

For most of history, poverty had been mostly accepted as inevitable as traditional modes of production were insufficient to give an entire population a comfortable standard of living.

After the industrial revolution, mass production in factories made wealth increasingly more expensive and accessible, Of more importance is the modernization of agriculture, such as fertilizers, in order to provide enough yield to feed the population.

The World Bank estimated that 1,29 billion people were living in absolute poverty in 2008. Of these, about 400 million people in absolute poverty lived in India and 173 million people in China. In terms of percentage of regional populations, sub-Saharan Africa at 47% had the highest

By EUBALDUS ENAHORO priorities in order.

For almost four months now our students in higher institutions are at home because the institutions are not well funded and it is still a subject of debate between the government and teachers. But It is in the midst of this and other problems facing the nation we learnt that our elected representatives at the National Assembly, the Principal

Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Children

Poverty: incidence rate of absolute poverty in 2008. Between 1990 and 2010, about 663 million people moved above the absolute poverty level. Still, extreme poverty is a global challenge; it is observed in all parts of the world, including the developed economies.

The supply of basic needs can be restricted by constraints on government services such as corruption, debt and loan conditionalities and by the brain drain of health care and educational professionals.

Strategies of increasing income to make basic needs more affordable typically include welfare, economic freedom, and providing financial services.

Today, poverty reduction is a major goal and issue for many international organisation such as the United Nations and the World bank.

According to the United Nations, poverty is a denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society.

It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or fragile

Officers, rejected the N3bn quarters built for them by the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority.

This revelation obviously sparked some reactions, even when the issue of their remunerations was subjected to a lot of criticisms in the past. A lot of well meaning Nigerians have described the project as waste of funds and a further proof of governments insensitivity to the hardship majority of Nigerians face.

The people have come to the conclusion that this is consistent with the wind of profligacy, impunity and total disregard of the masses of this country in which two-third of the people are earning less than $2 a day.

There is no doubt that the injunction of the word of God, “ Love thy neighbor as thyself” is not being practiced by many, because it is not possible to love your neighbor and you have so much wealth locked up somewhere and you don’t bother about the plight of the less privileged in the society.

The government should make deliberate efforts to meet the needs of those who are not opportune to be in the corridors of power or in politics because this days it is generally believed that if you want to make it big, you become a politician.

What really irked this writer most when the issue of accommodation for our law makers was raised in the media was the fact that the government could have avoided wasting funds if it had taken public opinion more seriously and avoided selling Apo legislative quarters.

The Apo Legislative quarters, built for lawmakers in the Federal Capital Territory in preparation for the return to civil rule in 1999 had been sold to the lawmakers in 2004 despite public outcry and today that decision has cost Nigerians in many ways.

For example, the allowances of new lawmakers were increased to cover the cost of securing accommodation and when the President Umaru Yar Adua administration was inaugurated in 2007, the National Assembly had to go on recess immediately to enable the legislators sort out their accommodation issue.

If the Apo quarters had been kept as was originally planned, the talk of new accommodation for the lawmakers would not be an issue, which brings us to the urgent task of reviewing the mode of governance adopted in this country.

Global Issue

By UGBOGBO S. N.

environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.(9) As noted by World Bank, Poverty is a pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity.

Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one’s life.

In Copenhagen Declaration, Absolute poverty is a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and’ information. It depends not only on income but also on access to social services, the term absolute poverty is sometimes synonymously referred to as ‘extreme poverty.’

Absolute Poverty Poverty is usually measured as either absolute or relative (the latter being actually an index of income inequality). Absolute poverty refers to a set of standard which is consistent over time and between countries.

For a few years starting 1990, The World Bank anchored absolute poverty line as $1 per day. Purchasing power parity basis, after adjusting for

inflation to the 1993 US, dollar, In 2005, after extensive studies of cost of living across the world, The World Bank raised the measure for global poverty line to reflect the observed higher cost of living. Now, the World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than US$1.25 (PPP) per day. It estimates that ‘in 2001, 1.1 billion people had consumption levels below $1 a day and 2.7 billion lived on less than $2 a day.’ A dollar a day) in nations that do not use the US, dollar as currency, does not translate to living a day on the amount of local currency as determined by the exchange rate. Rather, it is determined by the purchasing power parity which would look at how much local currency is needed to buy the same things that a dollar could buy in the United States. Usually, this would translate to less local currency than the exchange rate in poorer countries as the United States is a more expensive countryG:\Poverty.htm - cite note-dollar-14 The proportion of the developing world’s population living in extreme economic poverty fell from 28 percent in 1990 to 21 percent in 2001.

Most of this improvement has occurred in East and South Asia.

In East Asia, the World Bank reported that The poverty headcount rate at the $2-a-day level is estimated to have fallen to about 27 percent [in 20071, down from 29.5 percent in 2006

and 69 percent in 19901 In SubSaharan Africa extreme poverty went up from 41 percent in 1981 to 46 percent in 2001, which combined with growing population increased the number of people living in extreme poverty from 231 million to 318 million, Relative Poverty Relative poverty views poverty as socially defined and dependent on social context, hence relative poverty is a measure of income inequality.

Usually, relative poverty is measured as the percentage of population with income less than some fixed proportion of median income. There are several other different income inequality metrics, for example the Gini coefficient or the Theil Index.

Relative poverty measures are used as official poverty rates in several developed countries. As such these poverty statistics measure inequality rather than material deprivation or hardship. The measurements are usually based on a person’s yearly income and frequently take no account of total wealth.

Mobility Poverty levels are snapshot picture in time that omits the transition& dynamics between levels. Mobility statistics supply additional information about the fraction who leave the poverty level. For example, one study finds that in a sixteen year period (1975 to 1991 in the U.S.) only 5% of those in the lower fifth of the income level

were suit in that level while 95% transitioned to a higher income category. Poverty levels can remain the same while those who rise out of poverty are replaced by others. The transient poor and chronic poor differ in each society.

Economic aspects of poverty focus on material needs, typically including the necessities of daily living, such as food, clothing, shelter, or safe drinking water. Poverty in this sense may be understood as a condition in which a person or community is lacking in the basic needs for a minimum standard of wellbeing and life, particularly as a result at a persistent lack of income.

Analysis of social aspects of poverty links conditions of scarcity to aspects of the distribution of resources and power in a society and recognizes that poverty may be a function of the diminished ‘capability” of people to live the kinds of lives they value. The social aspects of poverty may include lack of access to information, education, health care, or political power. Poverty may also be understood as an aspect of unequal social status and inequitable social relationships, experienced as social exclusion, dependency, and diminished capacity to participate, or to develop meaningful connections with other people in society. Such social exclusion can be minimized through strengthened connections with the mainstream, such as through the provision of relational care to those who are experiencing poverty.

To be continued

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NEWS

CBN, Dangote Group, Others Light Up Delta Trade Fair

By BETTY IDIALU

DELTA trade fair: CBN, Guiness, Dangote, Zartech, 150 others storm Warri Guinness Nigeria Plc and the Dangote Group, are among the over 150companies that are participating in the Delta trade fair which was officially kick started at the weekend in Warri the economic and industrial hub of oil-rich Delta State, is expected to last for one week.

Dr Kingsley Emu,

Vigilante Officers Admonished On Ethical Behaviour

By DANIEL EDOBOR OFFICERS and men of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria Edo State Chapter have been advised to leave up to the tenets of the enthics of the group in order to reduced crime rate in the society.

Mr. Olushegun Adebusoye, Edo State Commandant of the group said this in Benin City while addressing some newly promoted officers.

He noted that Vigilante Group which is a security outfit registered by the federal government of Nigeria was to assist the Nigeria police and other security agencies with a view to reducing crime rate in the society, stressing that membership of the group is open to able bodied Nigerians of good character who are willing to work for their father land and must be known in the community they reside.

Commandant Adebusoye said policing our society cannot be left in the hands of the government alone but with much cooperation from member of the society through the provision of useful information about criminals.

Those decorated with their new ranks include Deputy Commandant Oredo Local Government Area Ifa Ehiosfe, Sunday Pullen Oredo Local Government, Bayo Olaruwaju state training officer, Otasowie Michael Chief Superintendent Area Command Office and Ogieve Osazee Admin Oredo respectively.

Commissioner of Commerce and Industry,at a press conference with journalists over the weekend while inspecting facilities in preparation for the Fair at the Trade Fair Complex near Osubi in Warri, stated that this years is unique in that it is a product of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

According to the Commissioner, innovations churned out of tertiary

institutions in the state will be exhibited with a view to leveraging on them to further boost the state economic policy of Delta beyond Oil, being championed by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The trade fair, which is expected to last for one week will also be graced by popular music artists performing live during the

expo and over 608 small scale business outfits.

The Commissioner noted that the event will also witness a two-day SMEs clinic to avail participants the information on how funds available for SMEs can be accessed by individuals who are into small scale businesses.

Participating at the clinic are the Central Bank of

on road safety”, he said.

Comrade Omoigiomwan pointed out that as a measure, tipper drivers are lectured on daily basis on the importance of keeping safe on the road in order not to endanger their

lives and that of other road users.

He commended the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Police for ensuring sanity and safety on the nation’s highways.

Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry, Dangote Group, Zenith Bank Plc, which is the banker for the trade fair, Warri Industrial Business Park, Delta Micro Credit Programme (DMCP), Zartech and micro finance banks, among others, expected to share session with the people on how the over N220 billion “funds available can be accessed by individuals to aid small scale businesses.

Dr. Emu opined that “the

trade fair is for people who want their businesses to move forward as Delta State has a lot of resource,” he observed.

While promising that the departure from government and apos;s sole sponsorship of the fair and the involvement of the private sector was borne out of the need to make it an annual event as well as sustainable, adding that the event is expected to begin to hold for 2 weeks in the nearest future.

The union boss called for greater co-operation between all stakeholders in the transportation industry, adding that there should not be friction between Drivers Union and the relevant government agencies.

Comrade Omoigiomwan however expressed the hope that the nation will enjoy less accident-free Christmas and New Year celebrations, adding that it is important also to pray fervently at a time like this.

Drive Carefully, Avoid Road Crashes; Tipper Drivers Union Chairman Urges Motorists

By NDIDI OJIEH As the year gradually draws to a close and with the attendant increase in the volume of traffic on the nation’s highways, drivers have been advised to reduce their speed limit and be more careful to avoid road crashes.

The advice was given by the Chairman, Edo State Tipper’s Drivers Association, Comrade Godwin Omoigiomwan in a chat with The SUNDAY OBSERVER in Benin City.

The Union Chairman, while proffering tips on how to reduce carnage on the roads said it was important that drivers remember their loved ones at home and as such, they should avoid any intoxicant which could impair their sense of judgment while on the wheels.

“If they must drink, let them drink only soft drink”, he counseled.

The Tippers Drivers Association as a responsible union considers the safety of its members and that of other road users very paramount.

“Life is very sacred and it can not be bought with money. Therefore, we as a union places much emphasis

Officer of the vigilante group of Nigeria Edo State Chapter poss for a group photograph after their decoration. From L-R: Ifa Ehiozfe Oredo Local Government Dep. Commandant, Sunday Pullen Oredo Local Government Area, Bayo Olare Waju, State Training Officer, Otasowie Micheal Chief Superintended Area Command Office and Ogieva Charles Admin Oredo.

Be Your Brothers Keeper, Hotel Owners Association Chair Urges Members

By DANIEL EDOBOR IGUOBAZUWA – The Chairman of Hotel Owners Association of Ovia South West and Ovia North East Local Government Area, Chapter of Edo State Hon. Fidelis was Ogiamien has enjoined members of the association to be focused and show more commitment toward the promotion of the interest of members of the association.

Hon. Ogiamien who stated this at a meeting of the association at Jom Mem Guest House Iguobazuwa, the administrative headquarters of Ovia South West Local Government Area stated that what was required for any union to succeed was the collective and positive contribution of all members.

He disclosed that there are plans to assist members to boost their businesses towards ensuring efficient

service delivery to the people of the community as a way of enhancing business activities in the area.

According to him, “socioeconomic activities which is booming across the area today is as a result of the cooperation and mutual understanding among members of the association.

Other members of the association who expressed their view on the success of the association also expressed

satisfaction at the progress so far recorded in the promotion of hotel business in the community.

They also pledged their loyalty and implicit confidence on the present chairman, Hon. Fidelis Ogiamien for his ability to pilot the affairs of the association.

In a brief remark, the proprietor of Jom Mem Guest House Mr. Solomon J. Omoregbe commended the

chairman of the association for gathering members together towards achieving the set goals of the association.

Mr. Omorogbe said as a member of the association, he has been exposed to different banking facilities that have moved his business forward and advised other hoteliers who are not members of the association to come and join in order to improve their hotel business.

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WORLD NEWS Kenyan Deputy President Must Attend His Trial - ICC KENYAN Deputy President William Ruto must attend all sessions of his trial at the International Criminal Court unless specifically excused, appeals judges ruled on Friday, putting the court at odds with Kenya and the African Union (AU).

Prosecutors promptly requested a similar ruling in the separate case of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who had like Ruto been granted blanket permission to be absent for the bulk of his trial.

Ruto and Kenyatta are charged with crimes against humanity in orchestrating a

wave of violence after an election in 2007, but the cases have fed a growing sense of grievance among Africans, who say the court is picking unfairly on their continent.

Kenya is both East Africa’s largest economy and an ally of the West against radical Islam in the region, especially neighboring Somalia. Ruto and Kenyatta say at least one of them must be in Kenya at all times to ensure it is properly governed.

The decision to excuse them had promised to ease some of the African resentment. But ICC President Sang-Hyun Song

ruled on Friday that Ruto’s absence “can only take place in exceptional circumstances and must not become the rule”.

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda then asked the court also to set aside a decision to excuse Kenyatta - who has been urged by the AU to boycott the court - from continuous presence at his trial, which starts on November 12.

Clair Duffy, a senior lawyer at the International Bar Association, noted after the Ruto decision that “the application of identical laws arises in respect of Kenyatta’s case”.

• William Ruto to face trial

Iran Hangs 16 ‘Rebels’ To Avenge Ambush

IRAN hanged 16 “rebels” of an unspecified armed group yesterday in retaliation for the death of 14 border guards in clashes near the frontier with Pakistan, a semiofficial news agency reported.

The executions took place hours after the rebels ambushed the border guards near the town of Saravan in southeast Iran, Fars agency quoted local judicial official Mohammad Marzieh as saying.

State TV said that rebels had crossed the border from Pakistan and fled back there after the clash. Drug smugglers have occasionally ambushed Iranian troops in the mountainous area, which lies astride a major transit route linking Afghanistan to Europe and the Persian Gulf. Ethnic Baluch armed groups also operate there, but recently have been much less active.

The border in the remote region is porous, and groups can easily move back and forth.

The report provided few other details of the hangings. It did not mention a trial, suggesting the prisoners may already have been convicted and sentenced to death, and their executions moved up after the ambush.

The state news agency IRNA had earlier described the attackers as “bandits,” and said

authorities were investigating whether the attackers were drug smugglers or an armed opposition group.

An Iran official meanwhile said that authorities would probe

claims by the daughter of detained opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi that she was bitten and hit by a female guard during an argument that broke out after she was allowed to visit her parents.

Ethiopia Bans Domestic Workers From Moving Overseas ETHIOPIA has banned domestic workers from moving overseas for employment, following an “exodus” of workers leaving the country through illegal placement agencies, officials have said.

“This exodus, being pushed by illegal human traffickers, has created immense problems for the people of the nation, for the image of the country,” foreign affairs spokesman Dina Mufti told AFP. Overseas employment agencies are ubiquitous in the country, and Dina said many agencies lure Ethiopians into working abroad illegally and in appalling conditions.

“It’s affecting a lot of youngsters who are pushed out, deceived by the human traffickers, that has created an immense socio-economic problem for the country,” he said.

Ethiopia’s Ministry of

Labour and Social Affairs said that 200,000 women left the country in 2012 seeking work, mainly in the Middle East.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) said many Ethiopia domestic workers -– mostly female –- are subjected to emotional and physical abuse, poor working conditions, low pay and discrimination.

In February, a video emerged online showing an Ethiopian maid in Lebanon being dragged by her hair in public by her employers. The female worker later killed herself in hospital.

Dina could not say how long the ban would be in place, only that the government was taking measures to address the issue.

“Until it is rectified... and there will be preparations for it,” he said, adding that employment agencies operating illegally would be shut down.

E. A. ADEBOYE On Sunday

Satan Visits On Purpose Memorise: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Read: John 10:10-11 MANY people go through life without truly enjoying open doors. John 10:10 says.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

This scripture tells us that if there is nothing to steal, never expect the devil. So if he ever shows up at all, ignore all the pretence: there is something that he is targeting. May Satan fail in every area he has made you his target in Jesus name.

Satan is called different names by people. You can call him any name you like - a thief destroyer, liar, etc, but never call him a fool because he is not. The little I have

discovered is that the devil is aiming at one thing - destroy your destiny. In getting his potential victim, he rarely uses frontal attack or brute force.

But, if he does, there must be a special reason. Why do you think Satan decided to completely take over the man who became notoriously mad in Mark 5:1-20? It is because he could see that the man could become a great evangelist that would stop the kingdom of darkness. So before he stopped them all the demons flooded into him in order to stop him. Why do you think he possessed the woman of Luke 8:13 with powerful demons? It is because he somehow got to know that she was meant to be a divine treasurer.

In the same vein, when he somehow foresaw that the woman of Samaria recorded in John 4 was going to be a vessel of honour to God, he kept on attacking her marriage. She went through five and was with a sixth man before her deliverance. There are ladies whose marriages have been on the line. They have found it difficult to settle down with a man. Some have committed suicide while others have been miserable and depressed. The Lord wants you to take courage and come to Him and He will help you to bear your burden and release your destiny. If the devil has been fighting serious battles in your life, it is because he has seen something great coming. In the name of Jesus, that great thing that the devil has seen in your life shall be made manifest.

Action point: Father, disappoint every evil plan or purpose against my destiny.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Meet Woman Who Lives On A Tree

IN the face of greedy men with chainsaws in their hands, not even the enduring giant Redwoods stand a chance. But Julia Hill, a young American environmentalist showed the entire world the battle for the preservation of Mother Nature’s wonders is not yet lost, after she spent an astounding 738 days high up in a 60 meter Redwood she named Luna, in a desperate attempt to save the ancient tree and the forest around it.

When she was 22, Julia Hill was involved in a freak car accident which left her with a fractured skull and unable to speak for a year. Once a career and money driven woman, she rethought her entire life and set out to explore the world.

In 1997, one year after her accident, she finally found what she was looking for – a group of activists protesting against the destruction of a redwood forest in Northern California, which stretched for hundreds of kilometers.

She was enchanted by the ancient trees and decided to join their cause. Courageous and determined, Julia volunteered to climb one of the tallest trees in the forest – a 1,500 year old redwood, hoping to stop the Maxxam Corporation, the operator of Pacific Lumber, from chopping it down.

Inexperienced, she managed to stay in the tree only for a few days at a time, which didn’t really impress the loggers or the media. Julia wanted to draw the atention of international media to the horrible deforestation that was taking place – a process called “clearcutting” which implied

cutting trees of all ages and sizes and then burning the entire area in preparation for replanting new ones. She knew the only way to get people’s attention was to break the record for tree sitting which was 42 days.

And that’s exactly what she did – after 100 days, Julia was all over the news giving interviews and educating people on the importance of saving these trees that have been here long before us.

As time went by, Julia – nicknamed “Butterfly”, was approached by celebrities who supported the cause, politicians who wanted to talk to her on her mobile phone and reporters who wanted to document her battle against the powerful corporation. She didn’t expect and didn’t want to be in the spotlight but

THE Danish Faroe Islands, located between Norway and Iceland, has experienced a falling birth rate that threatens the archipelago’s future population. Men outnumber women by 2000 and the total population of the Faroes is just 48,500. As reported by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, many Faroese

women leave the islands to study in large cities like Oslo, Copenhagen or London and half never return. Hermann Oskarsson, the islands’ former chief economic advisor, warned that by 2023, the population could fall to 37,000. He told Politiken newspaper, “It is a question of survival. The young women that should be here to

accepted that it was her mission to pass on the message and share her knowledge about the ancient redwoods. The journey she embarked on was extremely difficult as she had to endure harsh weather conditions with constant wind, cold and rainy periods. Moreover, the staff from Pacific Lumber was making her stay with Luna even less bearable. It had been reported on many occasions that many protesters had been harassed and even harmed by the big companies’ workers who used pepper spray and other forceful methods to ward them off. Hill was no exception but Luna’s 60 meter height served as protection against the pestering loggers.

Nonetheless, she was constantly tormented by the sound of snapping and falling

Compiled By EJIROGHENE ONOJETA

Mother Sells Her 12 Daughters A Colombian woman identified as Margarita Zapata Moreno, 45, is facing charges for allegedly selling her daughters’ virginity in Bogotá, RCN Radio reports.

Authorities said the mother of 14 sold the virginity of her 12 daughters, charging men who had a “favorable financial situation” around $300 per minor, according to the Colombian radio station.

Earlier this week, Zapata was turned over to the police by one of her daughters who is now 16 and has a child as a result of the alleged s*xual abuse. The victims’ testimonies indicated that the mother drugged the minors and forced them to have s*xual relations with the men.

After selling their virginity, Zapata reportedly forced several of her daughters to prostitute

One Year Old Baby Kill Mighty Snake

of a childish instinct when he put the snake in his mouth,” Ynet quoted snake catcher Eli Cohen as saying. “Luckily for him, the coin snake isn’t poisonous; otherwise, it could have ended in a tragedy.”

The bite of a coin snake is not poisonous but can be dangerous to anyone allergic to it. The snake chokes its prey, Cohen said, adding that had it been larger, Imad could well have been strangled.

The infant sustained no injuries from his encounter but was taken to a hospital in Haifa for a medical check to be on the safe side.

give birth to children are gone.”

Some Faroese men feel they have the solution to the emigration of Faroese women and have started ‘importing wives’ from the Philippines and Thailand.

Filipinos and Thais are the largest groups of foreigners on the Faroes numbering 200.

Mostly women, that number has doubled since 2006. It is unclear if the rise in immigration of people from the Philippines and Thailand is due to the ‘bride imports’ or to employment or other factors.

Bjarni Ziska Dahl, a teacher and shepherd, was single for years but in 2010 married his wife, Cherelle, a Filipino woman. About her husband Cherelle said, “He’s a good man. Yeah. He’s just simple.”

Bjarni’s brother Heini, and some of their friends also tied the knot with Filipinas.

Despite their countries being so far apart, Cherelle and Bjarni said that Filipinos and Faroese have common cultural values with their close family ties and living everyday life simply.

THE people of Kware area of Ongata Rongai in Kajiado, Kenya were in shock when they saw a headless cock in their environment.

The headless cock was like

Headless Cock

HELEN Southall has a job that’s as interesting as watching grass grow – because that’s exactly what her job is.

“The green-fingered Brit earns her crust by watching grass grow,” The Daily News reports.

“The seed analyst spends her days planting samples and making sure blades are rising to the right length.”

a shock of their life when the resident saw it .

“I spotted the white polythene paper in the morning but I did not open it because I thought it was waste dumped along the road,” Rachel said.

“At first we were afraid to check but we opted to do so when another neighbour dared to open and find out what it was,” she said.

Many residents ran for dear life when a cock without a head emerged from the polythene paper and walked freely along the road.

Another dead and rotten cock which was black in colour was left in the polythene paper.

Woman Stabbed Boyfriend Because Dog Ate Her Marijuana A Florida woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend when his dog ate her marijuana told police the man repeatedly walked into her knife.

The Broward Sheriff ’s Office said Shadae Scott, 26, allegedly attacked boyfriend Kevin Wiggins with a knife Sunday at her Dania Beach apartment because his dog had eaten her supply of marijuana, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Tuesday.

Wiggins suffered small knife cuts to his face and head. He had one large gash across his hand, deputies said.

The arrest report said Scott told deputies Wiggins had

themselves, according to the Colombian daily El Tiempo. The daughter who denounced her mother told local authorities she had been sexually abused since the age of 12, became pregnant and went to the police after Zapata told her to get an abortion.

Tito Cornelio Daza, 51, was also detained and is believed have abused at least one of the daughters.

Daza and Zapata deny the daughter’s accusations, but have been arrested and could face up to 25 years in prison, El Tiempo reports.

Earlier this month, the National Legal Medicine Institute reported 11,333 cases of s*xual violence against minors in Colombia since January of this year. According to El Tiempo, 83 percent of the victims were girls.

Woman Makes Money Watching Grass Grow

Headless Cock

Faroe Island Men ‘Import Brides’ To Increase Population

AN encounter between a snake and a baby ended unexpectedly when the boy killed the reptile – by biting off its head.

The 1-year-old, named ImadGadir from Shfaram in northern Israel, found the 35centimetre-long snake in his room Thursday morning and was chewing on it when his mother found him, the Ynetnewssite reported Friday.

Her horrified screams alerted a neighbour who rushed to the house and grabbed the remains of the snake from the boy’s hands.

“I guess the kid acted out

trees. Fighting the loggers and loneliness at the same time, she soon got very attached to her only companion, Luna whom she now considered her friend. When talking about her experience with her tree friend, Hill said that it was like “living with an ancient being.”

During Julia’s famous tree sit, Pacific Lumber was very persistent, but not as persistent and determined as Hill who endured every obstacle coming her way for over two years. After 738 days, Julia finally put her feet on solid ground. “I was leaving the best teacher and friend I’ve ever had. Also, the person I’d been when I’d gone up and the person I was when I came down were so profoundly different that I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to live in the world again. I hadn’t touched the ground for two years and eight days. When I set foot on the earth, there was a lot of emotion. There was extreme joy, because we’d protected the tree and the grove around it, which a lot of people had said was impossible. But there was also sadness. I had become so much a part of that tree, and it had become so much a part of me, that I wasn’t sure I would fit in with other people,” Julia said in an interview. “Though I left the tree, it’s still so much a part of who I am that I can just close my eyes and be in its branches all over again.”

Odd News

walked into her knife repeatedly during their argument.

Scott was arrested on a domestic battery charge and jailed in lieu of $2,500 bond.

Typically, when Americans think of people getting paid to grow grass, it conjures up an image of an illegal hydroponics operation from some guy named Moon jive. But in this case, Southall’s employment is far less nefarious: She works with green grass — the same stuff grumpy old men tell kids to stay off while they shake their fists in anger.

Though she admits that some parts of her job are tedious, her gig isn’t exactly garden-variety.

As a seed analyst, she focuses on which types of grass grow to the right length in the most efficient manner. Still, sign spinners across the country must be baffled that there’s a job out there that requires even less effort than theirs.

Though the gig sounds about as legit as a Craigslist’s posting that says, “MAKE $$$$$ DOING NOTHING!!!!” this a true career for Southall.

According to the article, she finds her job “rewarding” and “fascinating.” That’s great for her, though typically those words are more often used to describe the job of a cancer researcher than the job of someone who plays with a soil for a living.

The report fails to mention how much green she’s actually making — financially or otherwise — but for some of us, there’s not enough money in the world to make this seem like an interesting career choice. Now go back to sifting through that backlog of spreadsheet data like a normal person.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

SUNDAY SERMON

True Repentance

HAVE you ever been so sure of yourself, ignorantly and consciously before.., it might be so funny, but this is a height I do not think, anybody wants to get to. At that point when you rely so much on your physical and mental strength to survive in this life’s terrain, you are susceptible and nearest to one of your falls. Scriptures was in full understanding of this terrain that is why it said: ‘wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall” I Cor. 10:13;.

Proper understanding of this scripture comes to the mind, if you study the verses 12 and 14 of I Cor 10. This is however not saying that you should always forget your personality as a Christian, for “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God seed remains in him: he can not go on sinning, because he has been born of God” I John 3:9 (NIV) but that our strength to surmount and live above sin comes from following and adhering to the ever present framework made available for the survival of sons in this present generation, the seal of our salvation and teacher of all truths - The HOLY SPIRIT: immediately your confidence shifts from reliance on God to total reliance on the confidence you have in yourself, failure is knocking at your door.

Also, the position of every Christian in this world is for him to play according to the rules and principles of the realm which he operates in (Eph 1:20,), when you leave your position of power and sonship to try to navigate spiritual truths with the principles of the world your boat might be sailing, but check it very well for leakages, before the water overtakes the boat and it capsizes. Paul had the understanding of his fallibility, explains his situation in Romans 7:17-25 and the verse in Romans 8: 1 is the stinger that acts as check and balances, and that is why he says that irrespective of the great revelations that is made available to him, a thorn was

given him in his flesh to keep him from being conceited, hence his strength now comes from the power of God upon his life, and upon that alone will he boast (2 Cor 12: 7 - 16).

The place of properly laying this background, is for us to have something to fall back on when the going gets a little bit rougher, but please I do want us to know that His grace is sufficient for us to surmount every challenge that this world throws at us and His hand of infinite mercy is available at those points where we fall gullible to the wiles and caprices of this world. When we were yet sinners He died for us and loved us, talkless of now that we have being redeemed by His blood, who says he is not interested in us when we fall.

Moreover, do not be deceived! Your misbehaviour does not take God away from you, rather it takes you away from Him, because your mind judges and condemns you.

Then when you fall you are unworthy to stand before His presence and you run away,.. and when He comes in the cool of the evening after you have messed up and shouts Adam!

Adam! we make excuses and hide ourselves from Him (as if we can). But when He comes, please do not feel that way, check out; at those points when you fall, Daddy always comes around you, ready to lift you up when you fall,., for He cares much (this is not a guarantee to sin, for there are blessings that come along with staying holy; it is better to grow up with little or no scars than plague your life with scars).

For the sake of reference do not ever measure the distance away from God based on your acts, only God has the yardsticks for effective judgment. This most times is one of the pitfalls that a Christian experiences, “we lie with pride and when we hear fornication, it sounds like grave!” How do I know that, scripture equates disobedience and stubbornness with witchcraft, hatred and murder, outline liars as those that will

By OLUGBEMIRO MICHAEL .O.

have their part in the lake of fire, what now makes you think a sin is larger than the other. Do not base your remorse and repentance on the world’s measurement of sin, but just get back to your Father and hear what He wants you to do and how He wants you to think.

The struggle with thought patterns and the presentations of the mind on issues bothering on sin kills most times faster than the sin involved. In this dispensation where you do not look for sin but sin looks for you to the innermost of hideouts, when it sees that you are growing and might not fall for the obvious, it comes in the subtle. The only way for us to survive is to get to know what the father has made available for us in all situations. At every point in time of our life, He has made available pathways to get back to Him, and that way is

II:29;). You cannot be so distressed that God cannot pick you up; you cannot be so dirty that God cannot clean you up; you cannot be so far that He cannot bring you near... no situation leaves you so worst, that the Father is not there for you.

Furthermore, what differentiates a son from a servant is that, irrespective of the actions of a son, a father that loves the son will always look for ways to make sure the child is better. So also in this case, as God’s children (1 John 3:2) He will always look for avenues to bring you back to His ways, we as Christians are meant to be an extension of God our Father here on earth (we were created in His image and likeness), At every point in time, He is always ready to bring you back to His original intention, He demonstrated this by sending his only

Jesus; no wonder scripture says that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the Iife. ( John 14 6), knowing that way and how to go about it is easier when we learn of Him (Matt

begotten son to come and die for us at the cross of Calvary: Rom 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. I

am a son of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3: 26), He even gave us assurance of our sonship by giving us a seal i.e.

His Spirit; Romans 8:1416 “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God..! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” Hence all the packages and goodies that are accrued to a son are befitting to me, when a child offends; the father does not kill him rather he scolds him, makes him understand and puts him on the right track.

If our earthly father that loves us will do this for us, don’t you think much more will be done for us by our heavenly Father?

God does not condemn His children, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1, NIV). Majority of the times in our bid to help God feel bad, we wallow in guilt, give ourselves punishments of all sorts and then pass judgments on ourselves. I am

than you have created. Do not allow the accuser of the brethren to push you out of the knowledge of your personality, in your bid to feel remorse.

Any remorse that is not spirit led is a waste of time; it is just a consolation of the flesh. The seal of our salvation and our sonship is always available and ready to help us out in situations of falling, if only we listen to Him. Sometimes the fact that we knew, we heard Him talk before ‘falling makes the guilt stain tough to wash off, but there is no stain tougher than the blood of Jesus Christ. David understood the importance of the Spirit of God in the repentance process and that was why he prayed that “Create in me a pure heart, 0 God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence or take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” (Psalm 51:10-12. NIV).

not in any way against remorse and repentance, it is essential and compulsory, but do not go to the extreme of condemning yourself and creating a bigger gap between you and Jesus

Repentance outside the Spirit of God is futile, and adherence to the spirit is important to keep guilt from you and equip you with the knowledge to surmount the challenges brought by the accuser.

“At every point in time of our life, He has made available pathways to get back to Him, and that way is Jesus; no wonder scripture says that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the Iife. ( John 14 6), knowing that way and how to go about it is easier when we learn of Him (Matt II:29;). You cannot be so distressed that God cannot pick you up; you cannot be so dirty that God cannot clean you up; you cannot be so far that He cannot bring you near... no situation leaves you so worst, that the Father is not there for you.”

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Fufu Types And Their Nutritional Values

FUFU, a kind of food that is consumed by people living in Africa most especially the West has its own different method of preparation based on what it is made from as it can be made from different kind of foods like yam, plantain, cassava, cocoayam. It is an energetic food and is usually eaten with soup of various kind such as vegetable, ogbolo, okro, groundnut, melon, Banga, Beans and pepper soup etc. It can also serve as a food for special occasions like marriages, birthday, anniversary, burial ceremony and more. Yam fufu as the name sound one would instantly infer that it is made of yam, not just any yam you see in the market. There are specific yam that are good for making fufu yams such a s omi, gbango, danisha, Abakeleke, Kale, ofuafo and of course the king of yams

By BINITIE ROSELINE Ikpe (yellow yam) is very good for making yam fufu (pounded yam). It is very rich in carbohydrates. When eaten with very rich soup makes it more nutritious and satisfying when set on the table attractive and inviting.

Yam fufu (pounded yam) is very easy to prepare. Get a tuber of any of the above named yams, peel and cut into small pieces, wash and put in a pot, put it on fire, allow to cook very well.

Then get a mortar suitable for pounding wash it well, remove yam from pot don’t allow water to follow it to the mortar then pound very well. Pound till it is free from lump, add little warm water to soften it.

Continue with this process until it is soft enough to be eaten.

Mould into a ball big enough to be serve then serve your pounded yam as it is popularly called.

Another kind of fufu that is also very common and found in most of our markets, shops and roadsides is cassava fufu popularly known as Akpu, Santana or six to six, is eaten by all and sundry here. Its main nutritional value is energy. It gives enough energy to the body to carry out energetic exercise, to add to it nutritional content eat with a very rich source (soup). It method of preparation is a bit complex. For consumption in the house, get few tubers of cassava newly uprooted, peal them, wash very well then soak in a place where the heat of the sun can get to it and heat it very well in order

to quicken its fermentation. Leave it there for a maximum of four days. Touch it if it is soft (fermented) ferment by washing with a filter by removing it from the water in which it was soaked and wash into another clean water, when you are done with that stage get a sack, pack the settled cassava into it, allow it to loss water.

When it is a bit firm take a small quantity of it mix with warm water inside a pot put it on fire turn it, until it is cooked then pour it into the other cassava you have in a big bowl mix very well to ensure it is free from lumps cut into selophines tie it, meanwhile a pot of water should be on fire when it is hot put the tied fermented cassava into it cook and allow to be cooked. When it is cooked bring it down and pound with a mortar very

ealth Watch

H

With ANTHONY AIBANGBEE

well if it is too hard to swallow add little water and pound again continue with this process until it is soft enough then cut and roll into balls that can be served. NOTE. Cassava fufu can last two nights.

Plantain fufu is not common as such probably because it is not known and prepared by most of us. Plantain fufu is a unique type of fufu.

It is unique because you seldom see any one around you eating it and its nutritional value is also different. It is rich in potassium, vitamin A,C and B6 compare to yam and cassava. The nutritional content in it makes it an outstanding type of fufu. It can as well be eaten with a very rich soup like other fufu.

Cocoayam is also used for making fufu. It can be gotten from the market.

The same method of preparing yam fufu is applicable in the preparation of cocoa yam. It nutritional value is that it is very rich in vitamin B6 and magnesium, which help control high blood pressure and protect the heart. Its very rich in dietary fibre too and good for proper glucose metabolism.

Fufu is a very special kind of food in Africa that is served and eaten with pride, infact it is a prestigious food used for serving royalties and eminent people before the emergence of western food. It was used as a food for special occasion and it is still used at present. It will never leave our society despite the presence of the different western food.

Imbibing The Culture Of Handwashing HANDWASHING to many is supposed to be before every meal, but health wise hand washing is suppose to be every now and then, in order to prevent germs from spreading and also to keep the kids and the whole family from getting sick.

Good handwashing protects against the spread of many illness,

from the common cold to more serious illness such as meningitis, flu, hepatitis A and most types of infectious diarrhea. When kids come into contact with germs, they can unknowingly become infected simply by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. And once they are infected, it is usually

just a matter of time before the whole family comes down with the same illness. Hence Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses.

Do not underestimate the power of hand washing, for the few seconds you spend at the sink could save you trips to the doctor. So to

minimize the germs passed around your family, make frequent hand washing a rule fore every one especially before eating and cooking, after using the bathroom and toilet; after cleaning around the house. After touching animals, including family pets; before and after visiting or taking care of any sick friends

or relatives, after blowing one’s nose, coughing or sneezing and after being outside (playing, gardening, walking the dog, shaking hands with friends etc).

It is due to the importance of hand washing that the United Nations (UN) celebrate the Global handwashing Day on October 15,

every year in order to campaign to motivate and mobilize millions around the world to wash their hands with soap, as a key approach to disease prevention.

So when you think of a healthy family, think of those little practices that can make your household stay healthy like proper ‘Hand washing’ regularly.

“When kids come into contact with germs, they can unknowingly become infected simply by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. And once they are infected, it is usually just a matter of time before the whole family comes down with the same illness.”

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Human Population And Its Impact On The Environment WITH the ever increasing population of Nigeria and the continuous degradation of our environment, there seems to be correlation between the ever-increasing human population and the various impacts on our immediate environment.

With man being the major player, he continue to make remarkable impact on the environment, primarily through the use of nature resources and production of wastes which has brought about negative impact of these numerous human activities on the environment.

Population refers to the total number of people resident in a particular area at a particular time, population growth on the other hand simply refers to addition to or subtraction from the existing population through the interaction of the three elements of population change namely: Birth, Death and Migration. Nigeria which is referred to as the demographic giant of the world’s fastest growing region (sub-Sahara Africa) has been growing in such a way that the population figure recorded in every census surpasses the figure of the immediate past census with a total population of over 140 million people and a growth rate of 3.2 percent (06), the nation will double it’s size in 22 years. This dramatic growth in human population has caused much concern especially about the strains it places on the resources of the environment and the quality of lives.

Population is a major source of environmental degradation through the use of natural resources and production of waste and it is associated with environmental stress such as reduction of ecosystem complexity, loss of biodiversity and the alteration of the all important biogeochemical cycle, (according to Asthana and Ashtana, 2006).

Environmental degradation in Nigeria results from factors such as economic growth, population growth, urbanization, intensification of Agriculture, rising energy use and transportation. It is therefore, safe to conclude that environmental changes

in Nigeria are a result of dynamic interplay of socioeconomic, institution and technological activities. The ecosystem is a complex system in which interaction between the different component of the environment occur. It refers to any spatial unit which includes the living and nonliving constituents interacting with each other and producing and exchange of materials between the two. The non-living or abiotic components of an

themselves consumed constitute the food chain.

However, this natural flow of energy in the ecosystem is being disrupted through increase in human activities which is as a result of increase in human population. It is the argument of this study, that the growth of human population impacts on the ecosystem negatively.

In the aspect of human population being a source of environmental degradation,

earth can sustain. Man has impacted on our environment thus: Reduction In Ecosystem Complexity And Diversity Man has never been over simplifying the structural component and diversities which occur in undisturbed natural ecosystem. This act is through Agriculture and other human establishment, man has been able to alter the flora and fauna over a large surface area. The complicated many tiered

ecosystem are mineral nutrients, temperature, light, water and air amongst others. While the living component of the ecosystem is made up of population of different organisms which occur in the system.

More so, in the ecosystem, green plants alone are able to trap solar energy. The transfer of energy from green plant through series of organisms which consume food energy and in turn are

researchers Botkin and Keller (1998) posited that, the human population issue is the underlying issue of the environment because most current environment damages result from the very large number of people on the earth, ultimately researchers cannot expect to solve the problem of environmental degradation without first limiting the total number of people on the earth to the amount the

topic structure of a natural system is reduced to two links; primary producer and man.

Also man tends to over simplify the microbial community present in soil bodies through the use of chemical fertilizers and intensive agriculture leading to depletion of organic material on which microbial population depend for nutrition which insecticides washed down into water and

Environment With ANTHONY AIBANGBEE the soil kill susceptible organism directly.

Man has also affected the diversity of animals by taking few species, domesticated and protected them to form a huge population. Those species which are left out are finding it difficult to cope with stress imposed by human activities. A number of plant and animal have become extinct or at the verge of extinction due to over simplification of the ecosystem.

Changes In

Biogeochemical Cycles Complete pathway through which chemical element flow in the earth system is called the biogeochemical circle.

Ruthless exploitation and population of the environment has disturbed the operation of the all important biogeochemical circle, according to reports, examples of this circle include; phosphorus cycle, nitrogen cycle, the Sulphur

“Population is a major source of environmental degradation through the use of natural resources and production of waste and it is associated with environmental stress such as reduction of ecosystem complexity.”

cycle and the cycles of other trace element. Taking the carbon cycle as an example, carbon occurs as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as organic compounds in plants and animal bodies, in coal and petroleum deposits and as inorganic carbonate in water rocks, Shells and test amongst others.

Human activity has led to an enhanced rate of input of carbon into the atmosphere which has caused a measurable rise in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

This is due to increase use of organic matter, coal, petroleum and natural gas as fuel and the combustion of carbonate rocks for the manufacture of cement and lime.

While a rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may have no effect on plants and anim als, a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts like a big blanket around the globe which obstruct loss of heat of from the earth surface, it will cause a effect like that of a green house, in which the glass enclosed space gets heated up due to its insulation from outside environment. This effect is referred to as glass house effect or simply as global warming. These changes in the concentration of other elements such as oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus amongst others, in difference to the naturally required concentration has lead to one harm or the other in the environment which either directly or indirectly affect human health.

It is expedient to note that, not only the environment suffers from these continuous human activities but also the human health and wellbeing is appreciably affected by the environment, since according to reports (Asthana and Ashtana, 2006), the malnutrition and diseases caused by contaminated environment, human wastes, air borne disease form the core of the disease pattern of the developing world, Nigeria inclusive. What this report suggest is that, contaminated environment due to human activities has resulted in several cases of ill-health, morbidity and shortening of lifespan.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

COULD one ever forget those hours spent staring at our reflection in the mirror wondering, could we be considered pretty by any standards.

Those times of wishful thinking . . . if only this part war bigger, smaller, wider, slimmer, more this and less that. These wishes that have left us less confident, uncertain about our attractiveness in the world. Would we get noticed? Will they admire us? With all these imperfections?

Sometimes we try to hide behind the celebrity inspired hairdo, those hip shoes, the edgy outfit, dramatic nail colors, just hoping we’d be able to gather a following anyhow. Yet the inadequacy remains. So we chase the latest trend which offer the lower neckline, the higher skirt, the lower waistline, all created to catch the eyes of everyone, else.

Today’s fashion craze screams SEXY (a new word for SEDUCTIVE) to which we have become victims. But little do we consider what sort of attention we are getting and what sort of attention

we ought to be seeking. Perhaps it is time to question the trends. To take back our identity. To stop enticing the passions

4:9. Being friendly and helpful to others are guaranteed to win you lots of favour and good friends. Titus 1:8. And a guaranteed

of worship. Exo. 30:34-35 With Appropriate Conversation: Your words determine the quality of your

BRIO With Francis Odupute

Beauty And Character

(Wisdom Tips For Single Ladies) of our viewers. To contemplate what it means to be truly beautiful. To tell ourselves every morning as we stand before the mirror “I am a holy place, specially, lovingly, chosen by God for His home”. lCor.3:16-17; 6:19. A beautifully, wonderfully created one of a kind masterpiece. How then should dress myself everyday as I step out of my house?

With a Smile. A happy heart brightens up your face (Prov.

15:3) and any other facial expression (new phrase for “countenance”) will disfigure your face.

Matt 6:16. Smiles tell the whole world you are nice, approachable and interesting. (New description for “comely”) Eccl.

2:14b.

With Kindness and Friendlines. (new description for “hospitality”) I Peter

By NADIA SULE

reward from God. Matt 16:27.

With Proper H y g i e n e : Cleanliness,

relationships with the rest of humanity, the benefit of words rightly spoken will bring you delightful

With Passion to do right: Chaste decent conduct will always win others to you. I Peter 3:1. And get God’s blessing. Prov.

11:18. Be passionate

Ointment and perfumes will bring delight to your heart Prov. 27:9a. In the Old Testament God gave detail procedure for the use of perfumes in the place

relationships.

Proverbs 15:23, 28; 12: 14a Good days and long life come only to those whose lips speak blessings and abstain from lies.

I Peter 3:10

about learning Bible virtues, about getting the right kind of attention, about making right types of friendship, because friendship with those who follow after

worldly trends can corrupt and erode your Christian values.

Rev.22,12, Heb. 11:6 With Style: An outfit that draws people to your character is more important that those that pulls gazes to body parts. That is why God says in 1 Peter 3 vs 3-4 that dressing ourselves must go beyond just dressing up, to turning attention to the incorruptible beauty hidden deep inside. A beauty that is gentle and meek. Mild (not brash). Polite and well-mannered.

So next time you stand in front of that mirror for that final assessment before you step out of the door, remember your beauty is far more than what you see reflected back, more than this beautiful hairdo, more resplendent than the sparkle of your jewels.” Like precious metals found deep within the earth, others will notice too, and will linger long to become friends. True friends.

“An outfit that draws people to your character is more important than those that pulls gazes to body parts. That is why God says in 1 Peter 3 vs 3-4, that dressing ourselves must go beyond just dressing up, to turning attention to the incorruptible beauty hidden deep inside. A beauty that is gentle and meek. Mild (not brash). Polite and well-mannered.”

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

What Have You To Say On The Election Of Nigeria Into The UN Security Council?

THE election of Nigeria into the United Nation Security Council has elicited divergent views from the public. Naked Truth went to town to seek the views of Nigerians. This is their response.

Excerpt: It is a Welcome Development -Campbell Ewhie Imoudu NIGERIA being elected into the U.N. Security Council is a welcome development. It parry that we are respected in the international politics. It is no mean achievement.

This is because Nigeria over the years has played a prominent role in security in Africa in particular and the world in general. Amongst these countries are Liberia, Sierra Leone Somali, Danfur region of Sudan. Just to mention but a few. That is not just all. It is high time Africa countries are elected into the permanent seat of the Security Council of the U.N Nigeria is long over due to be elected permanent member of the Security Council.

Not Worth Celebrating -Osaretin Okhomina THE news that Nigeria was elected into the Security Council, did not elicit any kind of celebration in me though others received it with

wild celebration. For me, there is nothing to talk about when the security situation at home is zero.

What physical blessing would the election amount to when Nigerians are having sleepless nights? How is the country’s election into security council translate into peace, and the citizens having cause to go about their normal business without molestation, intimidation and threat to lives and property. I think the election would have been a welcome development if the government of the day has been able to deal with the monster called insecurity headlong. God bless Nigeria.

It Will Boost Economic And Bilateral Relations -Kester Ogiesewu Nigeria’s election into the Security Council of the U.N is recommendable development because this will boost our economic and bilateral relationship with the outside world. Also, it further goes to show that globally we have been

recognized as a nation that can break even as a member of the U.N Security Council which will ultimately lead to global peace and security. However, this election of Nigeria into the U.N Security Council

the council to me is not what we as a nation need now because the country is long overdue for a permanent seat looking at our contributions to peace keeping operations within the continent and beyond. Even though, the

Naked Truth With CITIZEN EMMA KOLA OKHAKHU country, otherwise that may work against us in the final voting rounds.

The Best Is Yet To Come -Barr. A.A. Emwanta A good and very c o m m e n d a b l e development which will boost the international image of Nigeria as the

President Goodluck Jonathan has been long overdue because Nigeria is a country to reckon with not in terms of leadership but in the area of socioeconomic development which hitherto had imparted on the Africa continent and indeed globally. I believe that it is a position well deserved.

This Is Not Our Priority Now -Obanor Friday Election of Nigeria into

election will help to boost our rating in the comity of nations. I don’t think we stand a chance of gaining much from it because this is not the first time we are getting elected into the security council. While we await the final ratification of the election by 2/3 of the member countries, the country should start working towards how best she can tackle the rising incidence of insurgency in the

most populous nation in Africa. This is one of the positive results of the President’s address at the U.N General Assembly.

The best is yet to come.

For Nigeria in international politics.

Government Should Tighten Security In The Country -Aghariagbonse Joseph IT is a welcome development and a step in boosting Nigeria’s recognition at the

international level.

It will help us to increase our security level at the international and local level.

What the federal government need to do now is to tighten up security in the country, especially the insurgency in the North and militancy in the South in order for the international body (UN) to have confidence in us to deliver.

Nigeria Should Seek Help To Fight Crime -James Ochowa Millicent ELECTION of Nigeria into the UN Security Council is a welcome development and should be taken advantage by the President of Nigeria, to use to straighten the level of national security in Nigeria, especially the high increase of Boko Haram operation in the country should be reduced to the lowest stage. This should also help Nigeria to foster peace and unity among other nations for economic purpose and also to seek help in fighting the high rate of crime and corruption in the country.

The president should seize this opportunity for national development not for personal gain and the greed of government office holder.

“Nigeria’s election into the Security Council of the U.N is recommendable development because this will boost our economic and bilateral relationship with the outside world.”

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VOX POP

What’s Your View On Oshiomhole’s Signing Of The Death Penalty Law For Kidnappers EDO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has finally signed a bill into law sentencing kidnappers to death by hanging in Edo state. It is an idea that has been welcomed by the people.

SUNDAY OBSERVER interns: Ruth Omigie, Joseph Ogbewi, Shedrack Erhabor, Jeffrey Oboh, and Azubueze Ebuka went to town to feel the pulse of the people.

Excerpt.

This Is Very Good Decision – Edurance Aiyomwan Signing the death penalty on kidnappers which was amended by the House of Assembly is very great and a very good idea, but to an extent, I think it should be viewed from two perspective; one, it will help to reduce the act of kidnapping and other criminal act in the state.

Secondly, signing the bill will also put the lives of those kidnappers in danger, in the sense that, the kidnappers who normally kidnap for something and demanding for a specific amount, knows if they are caught, they will not only serve months in jail but will be killed.

There Have Always Been Comments About Insecurity – Choice Egbenga The people of Edo state have always been complaining about the insecurity of the state and also the kidnapping of the rich ones among us. I like this decision because those youths that are involving themselves in the act will know what is going to happen to them

whenever they are caught. This decision was propagated to stop kidnapping in the state and this very decision will put an end to it, because it will put a lot of fear in the minds of the kidnappers.

The Issue Of Demolishing Houses Should Be Properly Looked Into – Favour Lucky The idea is a good one and am so in support of it but the issue of demolishing houses should be properly looked into because this may affect innocent landlords and landladies, because they may loose their house all in the name of kidnappers, because they were ignorantly accepted into the house. They never can tell if they were kidnappers and recognizing a kidnapper is very difficult because it is not written in the forehead.

The landlords and landladies should be quarried rather than demolishing their houses that took them time to accomplish because they were not observant enough on the daily activities of their tenants.

Edo People’s Mind

Will Be At Rest – Benjamin Osayande Edo people will have rest of mind for now, and also comrade Governor should put things and issues in place so as not to waste the lives of the innocent souls, and all hands should be on deck so as not to be

minded.

Kidnapping Is One Of The Problem We Are Facing – Samuel Iyare In my own view, this decision is very good because kidnapping is one of the problem we are facing in the state, with the signing of the death penalty law

pessimistic and partial in carrying out our duties like supporting loved ones that were caught in the act. It should be carried out well and let it be known to the citizens.

Adams Oshiomhole Has Done A Good Job – Favour Victor Right from the first time of his administration, Adams Oshiomhole has done a good job. But they should please make sure that the case is well investigated before carrying out the necessary and final actions. If this decision should work out, I think Nigeria will be a real home, and security

which have been amended, I believe it would help to reduce crime and kidnapping in the state. I was very

impress with the decision our Governor Adams Oshiomhole has taken and he should do everything within his powers to ensure that this works in the state.

This Is The Idea That We All Have Been Waiting For – Lucky Akogbe The people of Edo state are very happy, most especially me. It pains me to see the good and rich people of the society being kidnapped. This has become a popular thing especially when the year is coming to an end, but now that a bill has been signed, this will put a stop to it and also frighten those kidnapper who have be planning on how to kidnap a soul all in the name of money. And the most painful part of all is their demands, they end up demanding for so much that scares people and make them think that they might loose their loved ones

if the money is not raised. I think this penalty will surely put a stop to it.

Am So Happy For This Decision – Peace Enahoro I love this decision.

Now that Christmas and New Year is near, I think the rate at which kidnappers has been operating will reduce. Every year different news are been shown on television about kidnappers. I guess this year is going be a different one, because kidnapping news will be reduced and I am so overwhelmed and happy for this decision that has been taken by the Government. I wish other state will copy what Oshiomhole did or better still Federal Government should pass death sentence to all kidnappers so that the rate of kidnapping will be reduced in all the state and the people’s mind will be at rest.

“I like this decision because those youths that are involving themselves in the act will know what is going to happen to them whenever they are caught. This decision was propagated to stop kidnapping in the state and this very decision will put an end to it, because it will put a lot of fear in the minds of the kidnappers.”

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GENDER ISSUES

Promoting The Status Of The Girl Child (2) SOOLA (1996) submits that the media often depict women in a stereotypical and derogatory manner. He adds that in home videos, women are portrayed as dependent, irrational, superstitious, over sentimental, busy bodies, intrusive, nagging and unaccommodating mothers in-law, or as witches recanting a life of wickedness. Besides, advertising has not done much to bring dignity to women’s image.

F A C T O R S M I L I T A T I N G A G A I N S T DEVELOPMENT OF A GIRL-CIIILD Cultural and Patriarchal Belief As established in the obstacles against the education of a girl-child, it is clear that cultural and patriarchal beliefs continue to portend a bleak future for her. The cultural bias against the girl is that many illiterate parents believe that by virtue of being a girl, she will surely be married out, no matter how educated she is, and thus, she will not be able to continue with her lineage’s name. Put succinctly by UNICEF (2001) “Generally in Nigeria, women face an array of barriers to their full participation in various aspects of social life, due to entrenched cultural attitudes, which put girls at a disadvantage in education and discourage or hinder women’s participation in various types of employment, as well as in politics and public life”.

UNICEF adds that these discriminatory practices have proven difficult to eradicate, since they reflect views about gender roles that are deep-seated in Nigerian culture.

There is no doubt that various religions are being manipulated by men to perpetually relegate the girl-child. The creation of man and woman has been misconstrued as a basis for men to oppress women.

According to Genesis 2:21-22.... And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept anti he took one his ribs and closed up the flesh

in stead thereof. And the rib, which the Lord God had take,, from man, muck’ he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Nonetheless, it is interesting to note that God, in His infinite wisdom and perfection, took a rib from the side of a man to create a woman and not from the

By CLARA OGBITI major tribes in Nigeria — Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba, “ Islam is not simply a religion but a way of life for the Hausa in which girls rarely trend open Koranic schools but are trained at home to be wives and mothers... When they get

effects on the status of the girl-child. Tinubu (2011) acknowledges that Nigeria stilt has quite some way to go in empowering women, buttressing the need for mentorship to help develop young women and girls (emphasis mine) who have

married, usually early, they become mothers and wives”.

Today, the role of mentoring in promoting talents, excellence and sustaining development cannot be overemphasized.

I, therefore, hate to imagine if women are still women’s enemies or playing the “pull tier down” (PhD) syndrome instead of pursuing mutual interests and goals. These negative tendencies have adverse

great potentials.

CONCLUSION It has been established that the girl child does not have equal access to education, nutrition, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence and forced marriage. She suffers such predicament because of the strong cultural bias against her and deliberates manipulation of the various religions. With the male superiority belief, the

Mrs. Clara Ogbiti head of a man so that he would not lord it over a woman. Also, God took nothing from the feet of a man so that he would not trample upon a woman.

Rather, God took the rib from the side of a. man so that both will complement each other and walk side by side. What a perfect design

by God but which has been abused by man.

According to Ogbiti and Onosu (2012) “all religions, Christianity, Islam and African traditional practices are in favour of male dominance. As a result of this, women are seen as, “not that important” part of humanity, hence in business, politics, education, health matters and indeed all other endeavours of human kind, the woman and her views are not considered or are given occasional chances as after thought”.

It has been observed that religion has more serious implications on the education of muslim girlchild than her male counterpart. Ogunlade (1990) notes that of the three

education of the girl child is treated with levity, thus, denied the right to economic empowerment, political participation, reproductive health and protection from violence, discrimination and [arced marriage.

Consequently, she [s not able to make meaningful continuations to socio— economic and political development of Nigeria.

The Nigerian girl child, therefore, needs to be empowered to be able to develop her nation.

The mass media have not given adequate portrayal to the female folk and when they do, in the negative light, which further demean them.

Women cannot afford to work at cross—purposes, if otherwise, promoting the status of the girl child wilt he elusive.

RECOMMENDATIONS To enhance the status of the girl-child and to enable her make meaningful contributions to socioeconomic and political development, the Following are recommended: Cultural bias against the girl-child which relegates her to the background or being merely appreciated, should be discarded by the society so that her potentials can be fully harnessed for socioeconomic and political development. *Gender. Roles should be re-constructed to be solely based, on individuals ability, competence and merit, not necessarily on sex. A drastic change in gender roles is inevitable to enable girls to venture into all areas of human endeavours,

including the so called male dominated preserve areas. *Religion should not be unduly manipulated by man to despise the girl-child and women in general. After all, God created them both male and female in his own image, likeness and for good. *The mass media should sincerely and adequately use their enormous potentials to change the wrong societal perception and prejudices against the female folk.

After all, the mass media have such unique potentials than any other institution in the society to create true and positive image for the girlchild.

The three tiers of government should as the other of priority. *It is necessary to introduce gender studies in education curricula at all levels, create awareness through the Parent Teacher Associations and other bodies for a change of negative attitude towards the girl-child. *Every female professional, manager/ executive, entrepreneur arid leader should as individuals or in group make concrete financial and moral contributions towards enhancing the status of the girl child in the family, community, workplace and society in general.

Mentorship is necessary.

Accomplished females and discerning males should deliberately, aggressively and consistently encourage and invest in the education of the girl child, which is the greatest asset to protect all her rights and enhance her status.

“According to Ogbiti and Onosu (2012) “all religions, Christianity, Islam and African traditional practices are in favour of male dominance. As a result of this, women are seen as, “not that important” part of humanity, hence in business, politics, education, health matters and indeed all other endeavours of human kind, the woman and her views are not considered or are given occasional chances as after thought”.

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Expose Your Children To Music

AS parents, we teach our children about the importance of “Please” and “Thank you”. We tell them to look both ways before they cross the street and show them how to drive their first car, how to prepare meal.

But introducing our children to key musical influences can also be an important part of parenting process, establishing memories and transmitting values.

Research has shown that when children are exposed to music, particularly classical and jazz, it can teach concentration, selfconfidence coordination, patience and help them develop a genuine appreciation for music. It also can be a shared bonding opportunity for parents and their children, creating moments that become life long memories.

If you are musically trained, give your children music lessons, it can start from when you are pregnant, by placing the headphones around your stomach, letting the baby hear

soothing music that mimic the sounds of the uterus. You as a mother can sing to

your baby before giving birth, yes, I did that a lot to my son when I was pregnant,

I guess it might be one of the reasons, my son loves music alot. He has such a good ear for music, can tell if the beat, the brass and the tweets are high or

Motherhood With Chelson SMS 08023457637

low and he even wrote songs and has composed one already.

Seeing that your

“My son love music a lot. He has such a good ear for music.”

child ha s interest or you want them into music, you can hire a music teacher. In between their music lesson, they should spend about one hour a day practicing their instrument and singing.

Music teaches discipline and can actually improve math skills. Play music all the time when you are at home or in the car, play variety of musicJazz, R&B, POP, Reggae, Gospel and Classical.

Be deliberate about what you choose, in variety, lyrics and genre. Your children will notice and remember years later.

Live music can open a child’s eyes and give him or her new perspective about music. Take your children to that gospel concert, that R&B concert, as long as is a well organized concert that will definitely be an inspiration or have an impact on your child in modeling that child musically.

One thing though, don’t force the music on them. Give them the opportunity to see it and hear it for themselves. You will see if they are really interested in music or not.

“Take your children to that gospel concert, that R&B concert, as long as it is a well organized concert that will definitely be an inspiration or have an impact on your child in modeling that child musically.”

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MANY homes have broken because the woman failed to understand and respect the make-up of the man, they are married to.

In previous write-up, I stated that it is very important for all women to know, understand, respect and accept the total make-up of a man.

What, how and who men are generally and individually.

Note, men are naturally impatient in all things.

They want things done immediately on time and fast. They expect you to go straight to the point when discussing with them, issues and not beat around the bush. That is why men hate nagging, abusive, quarrelsome and heading women.

Women should therefore understand and bear with their husbands. Not only be patient with him in behaviour or attitude but be prudent because men are also naturally wasteful in spending money, food and in materials things. Give a man one million dollars, I bet you in the next one month, he will tell you, no money. That is why men need wives that are prudent.

It’s very important for women to understand men erotic love, which is often attached to their eyes. Women should always make themselves neat, presentable beautiful and attractive everyday. Let your man see you beautiful when and as he wakes up, going out with him, you are presentable in all occasions and you are

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

neat, smell well when going to bed with him.

Do not say that you have children now, so what is looking attractive got to do with it. My dear woman, everything, it

got a lot to do. Always look presentable, not necessary with expensive things, I heard a saying that for you to look beautiful, neat and presentable is not

expensive as long you don’t wear faded and dirty clothes, true! Let your husband be proud of you. Remember, that men wants to be honourned, it is one of

Knowing Your Husband (2)

Relationship With Chelson SMS 08023457637 their erotic love attached to their shoulders, you know, EGO! So, they need, love and adore sit when a woman is submissive and they abhor insolence.

Men erotic love is attached to their tongue.

Men love food, therefore, your food must be appealing and delicious. If he is no longer eating at home,

so mething is wrong, woman! Check your cooking, spice it more, like I wrote in last edition, give varieties, learn about more dishes, local, intercontental, men love sweets, learn how to bake, once in a while bake homemade bread for your family, cake pie.

Be wise, woman! don’t destroy your home, rather build with understanding, patient, love and above all prayers

“Always look presentable, not necessary with expensive things, I heard a saying that for you to look beautiful, neat and presentable is not expensive as long you don’t wear faded and dirty clothes, true!”

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

F

OR nearly four months now students of Nigeria universities have been at home following the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities

which components including the retirement age of lecturers had been met, the secretary to the government of the federation senator Ayim Pius Ayim and the minister of Labour and

of the striking lecturers earned allowances. He explained further that in line with the said agreement, the earned allowances were supposed to be paid by the lecturers’ respective

Politics And With

HAMEED BRAIMAH

ASUU Strike: Who Will S

Productivity Mr. Emeka (ASUU).

The strike which the Wogu had made frantic union called on July 1, and unsuccessful efforts to 2013 over alleged non- cause the striking lecturers implementation of the rescind their decision.

The union had also 2009 ASUU/Federal Government Agreement is rejected appeals from Vice still raging with no end in President Lamiadi Sambo sight following the to return to classes with that adamance displayed by assurances ASUU members toward government would do the federal government more in the areas of infrastructure offers to end the strike.

In fact, negotiations development of the between both parties have nation’s universities.

Government’s position since broken down with ASUU members on the 2009 agreement and threatening not to meet the crippling ASUU strike with the Governor Gabriel was made clearer by Goodluck Suswam led NEEDS president Jonathan when he said assessment committee.

According to ASUU, the during his September 29, government offer of N130 Presidential Media Chat billion as an incentive for that government was not them to call off the strike limiting its funding of the is a far cry from what they universities to the N100 agreed with the billion it has so far for the government in 2009 and released of contained in the 2012 development memorandum of infrastructure.

The president revealed understanding it signed with the government on that the N30 billion his the implementation government released to strategy. ASUU is the vice chancellors was to demanding that the federal assist them in the payment government release the sum of N400 billion for the development of infrastructure in both federal and states owned universities and about N95 billion only for the payment of earned allowances for federal universities lecturers.

They have vowed never to return to classes until their demands are met.

On the side of the federal government, the amount it has offered so far was the much it could offer.

Besides the Governor Suswam’s NEEDS Assessment committee assuring ASUU of government’s gradual implementation of the 2009 agreement, most of President Goodluck Jonathan

universities from their internally generated revenues.

Although critics of the president had accused him by his comment of compounding the situation by not offering practical solutions to the current ASUU strike, others feel that ASUU was taking undue advantage of its influence as a powerful labour union to hold the nation’s education to ransom.

Many including president Jonathan have accused ASUU of playing politics with the strike action in their refusal to shift any ground insisting that the federal government was trying to cause them to re-negotiate the 2009 deal which they are not ready for.

To them, “an agreement is an agreement” and a deviation from that would constitute a serious breach that would have damaging effects on the advancement of the nation’s universities.

The question on the lips of many now including Nigeria students and victims of the ASUU strike and several others before the current one is that, how has the shutting down of the universities for four months now helped the educational advancement of our universities, how has it raised the standard of teaching and learning in our institutions of higher learning which the ASUU had by their frequent strike actions contributed in lowering.

Many tend to agree with the popular opinion among Nigerians that ASUU had refused to call off the strike because they want their earned allowances paid before they can call it off.

Nigerians are unable to reconcile the deft with which ASUU is alleging decay in infrastructure and the visible improvement in social and physical infrastructures in federal universities for some years now. If the states owned universities have not

Protesting students against ASUU strike correspondingly begun to enjoy such improvements should not be seen as good enough reasons to shut down our educational sector under the guise of a strike action.

Like the president stated during the presidential media chat, the federal government had on its own volition set up the technical committee on state of infrastructure in the nation’s varsities which submitted its report upon which the NEEDS A s s e s s m e n t implementation committee was put in place.

ASUU national president Mallam Nasir Isa Fagge had in his bid to justify the ongoing strike gave what he called decay in infrastructure as one of the reasons for the strike action. Not many will agree with ASUU on this point as they feel that ASUU should have first admitted the fact that there

had been significant improvement in infrastructure with new lecture halls, theatres, libraries, hostels for students dotting the landscapes of the universities.

They contend that all this couldn’t have happened if not for the improvement in resource allocations to the varsities including donor funds such as PET Fund, Education Tax fund etc. They agree though that a lot still needs to be done in the area of infrastructure, they do not agree with the idea of a quick resort to strikes to arm twist the government as has become the fashion of ASUU members. A visit to the University of Benin where Professor Osayuki Oshodin holds sway as vice chancellor confirms this position where much academic infrastructures had sprang up in recent past. Some public commentators

inclu polit attem galler gove prom 2009 to the mora essen promi now thoug gover curren on its presen which dry s N400 becau so in gove establ unive studen shou reality the st that g from mone to the with more

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Issues

calls on the ASUU to call off the strike action, the lecturers have devised some lame dock strategies of street demonstrations to build a favourable public opinion through their

realize though regrettably is that in as much as Nigerians appreciate the essence of education in national development, they equally expect the government to be

resort to blackmail and outright appeal to fear of the adverse consequences the suspension of the strike action without government meeting their demands would have on the nation’s universities social/physical infrastructures.

A protest of the Nnamdi Azikwe University branch of ASUU on Monday last week in Awka was one of such image laundry efforts by the lecturer when the ASUU Unizik branch Chairman Prof Ike Odunegwu lamented what he called ‘a situation where our rich people send their sick ones to India for medical treatment because our teaching hospitals are in shambles due to lack of proper funding is no longer acceptable.

Continuing, he said “our government is budgeting N2.3 trillion for the building of a centenary village, but it can not release the sum of N400 billion to upgrade facilities in our public universities”. He missed the point because he failed to say anything about the poor attitude to work even by consultants in public health institutions who by so doing divert the frustrated patients to their private clinics.

What the learned Professor perhaps didn’t

responsible enough to manage its scarce resources in such a manner that ensures justice and equity even for the less vocal sectors of the economy, like the farmers groups and those in the informal sectors who also require as much attention as ASUU is demanding but unlike ASUU, lack the capacity to hold government to ransom. This is not the time to play to the gallery.

Let us face the real issues.

Interestingly the students on whose behalf the striking lecturers claim to be embarking on the industrial action do not seem to be on the same page with them as they accused the lecturers of self serving motives oiled by volt envy of the robust earrings of political office holders, which they believe they equally deserve. The students’ position was made known in Kano on Tuesday during a protest by the National President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comrade Yinka Gbadebo. He urged ASUU members to reconsider their stance on the strike as most of the demands were not implementable.

He therefore urged them to call off the strike while they dialogue with the government.

NANS

position was informed by anger being expressed by students and parents of university students over their children’s continued stay at home over issues they feel could have been

the talks between ASUU and government brings to the fore the issue of university autonomy.

The concept of autonomy of university which would confer some level of

Save These Students?

uding opposition ical parties, had mpted to play to the ry by asking the federal rnment to fulfill its mise’ as contained in agreement as according em it tend to raise a al question as to the nce of fulfilling every ise made. What are we saying? That even gh the federal rnment in the face of nt competing demands resources including the nt insecurity in the land h has sapped the nation should meet ASUU 0 billion demand use it had agreed to do 2009? This is the same rnment that has lished nine new federal ersities to take more nts off the street. ASUU ld begin to see the y before it and call off trike. The reality being government had moved its initial stance of no ey for ASUU members release of N130 billion a promise to release money in due course.

This has caused many Nigerians to begin to see ASUU as being the problem rather than the solution.

The resort to strike action as a means of solving the problems of our university education, ananyst believe is not the way to go as the ‘failure’ by the government to fund the universities as demanded by ASUU and their resort to strike both constitute two wrongs that can not make a right.

Apparently conscious of the growing apathy towards the strike action by both prominent and ordinary Nigerians through

• Dr. Fagge, ASUU President

resolved without a resort to strike action.

With the huge financial burden incurred by the parents as a consequence of the industrial action by way of running rents for off campus accommodation, irregular academic calendar with students spending more than necessary number of years in school with adverse social and economic implications for the students and parents, the students voted no to the prolonged ASUU strike.

The present deadlock on

adm inistrative/financial independence on the individual universities including labour issues should be encouraged as a way of promoting competitiveness among the various institutions. A situation whereby we have an octopus in the name ASUU with enormous powers to shut down the nation’s universities at the slightest provocation should be discouraged.

Labour issues should be such that are peculiar to the individual universities under the autonomy regime.

“What the learned Professor perhaps didn’t realize though regrettably is that in as much as Nigerians appreciate the essence of education in national development, they equally expect the government to be responsible enough to manage its scarce resources in such a manner that ensures justice and equity even for the less vocal sectors of the economy, like the farmers groups and those in the informal sectors who also require as much attention as ASUU is demanding but unlike ASUU, lack the capacity to hold government to ransom.”

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A new declaration is another result of turning from idols to the true and living God. In Thessalonians 1:5-10, the people began to follow the Lord. They were examples to all of Macedonia, northern Greece, and to Achania, Southern Greece.

The word of the Lord sounded out through the world, he said, not only there but in every place. And their faith toward God was spread abroad so that there was no need for Paul even to speak.

How the news traveled across the country that the Thessalonians believers are really genuine believers, “I never saw anything like it”, people probably began to say among themselves, the Apostle says they really had an experience, so their new declaration sounded out and people everywhere learned about it.

Somebody asked me one time, “Do you think that a person can be a secret believer”? Well, I am not judging anybody but if one really has the joy of salvation there will be a seclaration. People will learn about it, of course they

Turn Around Religion

will. It says here they sounded out the word of the Lord so that people heard and were convinced that there is something to this message of the Gospel.

A new deliverance is the third and best result of this turn-around religion. It will change you. It surely will.

What did it do for the Thessalonians? It turned them away from idols to serve the true and living God. The thing that is so baffling to me, so difficult for me to understand, is how anyone can make something and then call it his god. He makes it with his own hands, then bows down and worship it.

The prophet Isaiah wrote about that, he said some people take a piece of wood, carve something out of part of it, and cook their food with the rest of it. They set up the carving and bow down to it. But the Apostle says his turn-around religion turned these people away from idols to serve the true and living God. Now that’s the kind of religion I want. I

S

unday Diet

With ERNEST IKHUREIGBE

MAN is pitiably engrossed in life challenges that he does not even know the way out. Also, in the Holy Book, are people inebriated and suffocated with diverse problems but he is made to understand the cause(s) of them all.

For no clear reason, Hannah’s womb was shut by God, 1Samuel 1:5. But when she committed her cause to God who wants His name exulted, she was bequeathed with a promising prophet in Samuel. 1Samuel 1:20. The result that came forth, it is necessary and important that every lack that any one suffers should be addressed to God. Matt 7:7.

In John 9:1-7. A man born blind was healed at the intervention of the Lord. It is recorded that, the cause of his blindness from birth was

neither as a result of his sin nor the parent’s but for God’s glory to be manifested.

Beloved, the only one who deserved the manifestation of His Glory is still the one, who would cause it to happen when He is acknowledged at the nick of time. Never hide any problem from Him as He is in the know of all that you are passing through. It is however, expedient to be desperate to seek Him for possible solution as He would always stand still to attend to such desperate moves.

The blind Bartimaeus could be seen as desperate to get freedom from the Lord Jesus. Mark 10:47-52.

He cried aloud for solution and he attracted the attention of the Saviour. Immediately, he received his sight and

want a religion that turns you around and gets you on the right road and towards heaven.

Wouldn’t you like to have a religion like that? Because the Apostle continues, “And to wait for His Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come”. That’s the kind of religion I want –a turn around religion. It puts you on the right path. It puts you on the way to heaven. It puts you in the hope of being

delivered from the wrath to come that means the wrath of God. You turn from idols, then you wait for the Son, then you claim the promise of being delivered from the wrath to come. Yes, a turnaround religion, that’s what you want. You want a religion that will put you on the right path. A religion that takes you on a solid foundation, sends you on your way, the right way, with a new determination, and a new declaration, with

R

eflections

With MOSES EVBUOMWAN

a new deliverance.

Let us look at 1 Thessalonians 1:10, :And to wait for His son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come”. It means whatever God is going to pour out upon the wicked.

The godly will not experience God’s wrath because he believes in Jesus Christ. So we are not looking for wrath, my friend, we are looking for deliverance. He will be faithful to what He has promised.

Finally, I ask you again, what does your religion do for you? Has it done anything for you? I am glad to tell you that there is a religion, there is a faith, that will turn you around and put you on the right track. It will guide your fact in the right path. It will give you a new declaration. It will give you a new deliverance, deliverance from the enslaving things of time and from the condemnation of eternity.

Wouldn’t you like to have it? Then accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour right now.

“A new deliverance is the third and best result of this turn-around religion. It will change you. It surely will. What did it do for the Thessalonians? It turned them away from idols to serve the true and living God. The thing that is so baffling to me, so difficult for me to understand, is how anyone can make something and then call it his god. He makes it with his own hands, then bows down and worship it.”

God Is The Solution To All Life’s Problems

followed Jesus in the way.

Beloved, our Lord should be reverenced at all time.

His thoughts towards His own are different and unique that no one can question; whatever He decides to do.

Wherever the source of the problems may be He remains the only one that can bail one out of it.

Whether it is from God, the devil or caused as a result of one’s acts of unfaithfulness, God has the authority in Heaven, on Earth and under the Earth, and all power rest with Him. Phil 2:10, Matt 28:18, Jere 23:23.

It is also important to be reminded that whatever the challenges, God should be

invited to intervene. As God decided to close Hannah’s womb, nobody could have opened it. Whatever He opens, it is opened and when it is closed, it remains shut.

No wonder, Hanah’s womb remained shut until God decided to open it for Samuel and other five children to come forth.

1Samuel 2:21.

Man could decide on his own to find solution to his problem but the real solution does not come until God is involved.

Rachel thought the children raised by her maid

could bail her out of barreness but a time came that she realized the need to call on God for a child from her womb, Gen. 30:22 states that God hearkened to her and opened her womb. Her life problem was immediately solved when she acknowledged God. She that was forgotten, was remembered by God. Gen 30:22.

Beloved, I have cause to believe that there is no challenge of life that God cannot nib in the bud but God does respond to the call of those that believe and fear

“Beloved, the only one who deserved the manifestation of His Glory is still the one, who would cause it to happen when He is acknowledged at the nick of time. Never hide any problem from Him as He is in the know of all that you are passing through. It is however, expedient to be desperate to seek Him for possible solution as He would always stand still to attend to such desperate moves.”

Him. Psalm 103:11,13.

Anyone who is unrepentant cannot get the blessings of God; except one acknowledges and humbly align with Him; the solution to one’s lingering challenges would go on unabated.

It is therefore necessary and expedient to know that the creator of the universe can do all things to reverse the irreversible for His name to be glorified.

Luke 1:37 states “for with God nothing shall be impossible” He is the God that does wonderous things because His name is WONDERFUL. The challenges of life must come forth. However one must endeavour to seek God for solution whenever it crops up. Never allow despondency lure you to taking the path of destruction; it is the devil’s trick. Rather, choose the path of Jesus Christ as He is the way, truth and life. John 14:6.

Remain blessed as He takes over the battle of your life.

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Fashion How To Make Your Hair & Style Grow Faster

LONG healthy hair is a sign of beauty, vitality and youth. Whether you’re anxious to get movie-star caliber locks, combating problems with hair growth, or simply trying to put a catastrophic hair cut behind you, there are variety of natural and medicinal strategies you can use. The information below outlines steps you can take today to help your hair grow faster.

Eat a balanced amount of protein everyday: Protein is essential for healthy hair growth. Just make sure you eat the right amount. Hair is largely composed of keratin, a protein made up of amino acids. To grow new hair, your body must produce more amino-acids, which it can only do from consuming protein. Health protein sources include lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, and soy products.

Ensuring you have enough protein in your daily diet, the protein will literally give your body the building blocks for new hair growth.

Don’t cut fat out of your diet: Healthy fats are indispensable to hair growth without fat in your diet; your body cannot maintain healthy hair. Fat is also very important to the body because it helps to assimilate vitamins that are necessary for hair growth, like vitamins A, D, E, and K. be sure to limit your fat into a healthy level and focus on unsaturated fats and fatty acids such as omega 3.

Make sure you meet your recommended daily intake of vitamin C: Having a vitamin C deficiency can cause dry, dull, and weak hair that is prone to breaking. Your body uses vitamin C to build collagen, a fiber essential to the production of new hair cells, without vitamin C, your body will also have a hard time absorbing iron, so it’s doubly important to make sure you get your daily dose, particularly in combination with ironrich foods. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, pineapples,

strawberries, guava, broccoli, kali, and peppers.

Take B vitamin to avoid hair loss: Anecdotally, B vitamin supplements and topical applications have gained a significant following among those trying to speed up hair growth. Though there is little scientific evidence that increased consumption of B vitamins such as riboflavin and biotin actually leads to healthier hair, deficiencies of these vitamins can lead to hair loss or thinning, consult with your physician before taking any supplements since hair loss could be a result of something other than a vitamin B deficiency.

Good sources of B vitamins include seafood, spinach, oatmeal and other whole grains, soybean products, lean dairy, lean meats, bananas, lentils, potatoes (with the skin), peas, beets, broccoli and artichokes.

Have realistic expectations about your dietary changes: what you eat will not affect the hair that has already grown, but it will affect new growth.

Dietary effects on hair may take up to 6 months to be visible even though changing your diet may begin affecting the growth of hair in a much shorter time period.

P R O M O T E GROWTH BY MINIMIZING STRESS Maintain good health and avoid stress: Eat well, exercise regularly and get enough sleep to reduce general physical stress levels. Intense physical or emotional stress can cause hair growth to slow or shut down completely. In severe cases, stress can cause hair loss. Extended

By FAVOUR NOSAKHARE

fatigue dietary deficiencies and sleep deprivation can trigger your body to go into a survival mode where it exclusively denotes its energy to maintaining essential bodily functions and organ repair leaving

hair. The better your nutrition and general health, the more likely your body will be able to construct healthy hair quickly.

Identify specific physical stressors: certain physical stressors,

the physical condition to reduce strain on your body before focusing on promoting swift hair growth. Slow or unhealthy hair needs to heal itself in another area before devoting nutrients and energy to quickly constructing hair in many cases, hair growth will

your hair malnourished and unprotected from damage loss. When your body has adequate stores of nutrients required for healthy hair and do not need to denote energy and nutrients to simply keeping you awake. It can utilize those nutrients to build and protect your

such as excessive dietary supplementation or overuse of certain overthe-counter-medications physical trauma, and hyperactivity cans tress the body to the point of shutting down hair production and growth. If you are experiencing one of these factors, address

return to previous rates after recovery or following the removal of the physical stressor. For instance, someone suffering from the physical strauing of a car accident may notice slow hair growth for several months, but once the wounds have healed (and emotional stress is

“Maintain good health and avoid stress: Eat well, exercise regularly and get enough sleep to reduce general physical stress levels. Intense physical or emotional stress can cause hair growth to slow or shut down completely.”

With ROSE ORHIBHABOR

also addressed), hair growth should return to normal.

Learn how to effectively manage emotional stress: emotionally stressful events, such as feeling a lack security or worrying about not having a safe place to live etc can all

cause slowed or halted hair growth until the body is able to adjust.

Psychological stressors can help give your body the environment it needs to produce healthy and rapid hair growth.

Be patient: it may take several months to see visible slowing of hair growth or even hair loss because of extreme or chronic stress, but that doesn’t mean that stress levels should be ignored.

It generally takes many months to repair the damage that stress inflicts on your hair so the sooner you start reducing your stress levels and learning how to relax on a daily basis, the better chance you’ll have of promoting faster hair growth.

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s h o W b i z

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Music

Movies

The Concept Behind Live On Stage Concerts THE word concept denotes to stand for an idea or opinion. While the word concert also implies the compound meaning “musical entertainment.

While live on stage means the active performance of a artiste to promotes his or her self. For ceremonies purposes, it could be marriage freedom or burial ceremonies or even birthday parties.

But the particular one being spoken or referred to here in our main heading live on stage means the performance of musical artistes to thrill, entertain, or promote their relationship with their various fans too numerous to counts.

The word live on stage I believe come from late shows performances of the 70’s and early 80’s. From live show concert of the likes of Bob Nestar Marley, Jimmy Clerf, Benny Hern, Mary Mancaval of Africa, Lucky Dube of South Africa, also the likes of Reggae legend of Nigeria Majek Fashek and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti to mention but a few.

I could still remember vividly how Michael Jackson of blessed memory used to organize such live concert to gather funds for the orphanages and widows in the city of America which usually attribute million of fans to trip in for view.

So also the life of Bob Nestar Robert Marley who would always do same in Kingston Jamaica for similar purposes. So this is the little I could trace about the genesis of live on stage concept and concert.

The live on stage concept and concert recently been –used in Nigeria is the show worked of the Edo local musician or superstars as most prefer to be called.

The most notable ones are Akpankpan-Olita, Wilson Ehigiator A.K.A. (Akobeghian) the one from Eguasa Omoregie. The wonderful twins Vol 2, Ambassador Osayomore Joseph, Agbovbosa, and that of the legendary Akaba man which he personally called – Akaba fan’s Day. The whole Idea behind the live on stage concert that is making the musical air waves in Edo state, Benin City; all started around 2007 by The Wonderful Twins and their magnetic start led

by Odion and Ovbakhian Osadiaye – who’s first production was first recorded in Naimi Italy where they were residing then for a greener pasture.

The facts was that the whole thing started like play like play –when some serious fans of theirs in Europe recorded their night performance in Europe but because of the thrill from that show, they (the fans) of theirs went ahead for mass

By VICTOR AMASIHOHU

discovery was Akpakpan – Olite followed by Wilson Ehigiator – (Akobeghian) followed by production and sales. The whole thing so other. Even in this scene, our music pleased their individual fans that the sales went Ambassador- Ambassador Osayomore Joseph wide all every Europe even far down to Benin and the Ulele power sound was not left out of City, Edo State of Nigeria. the whole game.

Akaba man and his Africa pride also lunched into this whole show and captured his own Akaba fan’s day. This to me cannot be pride as others fellow artiste portraits. But in my candid opinion this could be a stylistic method of differentiating from the crowd or a simple method of separating the men from the boys.

Adviser Nowamagbe and his Etin-osa power sound A.k.A (masses chairman) even vow not to partake in the lots of other local musician in quest for live on stage.

Concert Vol 1 to z Personally to me this is not pride it is just personal way of portraying one’s mind of what is not from one’s heart.

However, live on stage concert by various musicians in the state Vol 1 to z has come to stay. As Akaba man even promised his fans that such series will always come periodically.

In my own opinion again, the brain behind this live on stage concert is that To boost one’s morale again telling one’s Akaba Man numerous fans’s that one is still in the market musically.

To source for money as the proceed from such concert go a long way to settling bills for the artistes involved.

The reigning trend which one ought to partake in as the adage goes in Edo language (Amafian-vbema) (if one does not partake in the pounded yam cooked by one’s fellow, it is a reproach) in Edo interpretation.

It serves as other method of serious interest in self advertisement in the media houses due to its high rate of bailing.

It shows one still belong to the classes of performing artiste.

Nevertheless what ever you may think is the concept behind live on stage concert. It has come to stay Critics point of view- most critics criticized that live on stage concert is a lazy Wilson Ehigiator A.K.A. (Akobeghian) man idea.

Other’s sees it as an immature way of producing albums. While others reason that it However, because of the huge financial is a get rich syndrome method of recording an benefits from the sales of this maiden edition album. other musicians in the state were tempted or No matters what critics may say-in the words inspired to go into live on stage concert and do of Legal Luminary Legendary Barister Roland likewise.

Inoma Igbinigie A.k.a (Akaba man), states and First to venture again into this musical I quote that a child that will survive the world need not listen to a crying bird.

“No matters what critics may say-in the words of Legal Luminary Legendary Barister Roland Inoma Igbinigie A.k.a (Akaba man), states and I quote that a child that will survive the world need not listen to a crying bird.”

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Theatre Concert Why Genevieve Nnaji Missed Premiere NOLLYWOOD actress, Genevieve Nnaji who flew to London for the premiere of “Half of a Yellow Sun” ended up missing the show

Of “Half Of A Yellow Sun”

as she was down with the flu and was under serious medical watch through

out.

This was disclosed by

the director, Biyi Bandele, who said they missed Genny at the premiere.

According to Bandele in a post on his facebook wall he said “just got back from the BFI London Film Festival European premiere of Half of a Yellow Sun at the Odeon West End. Humbled and moved by the rapturous reception the audience gave it. It was also great to see the hardest working actor on our hemisphere, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and the great John Boyega, and the amazing Babou Ceesay, and the one and only Onyeka Onwenu, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie of course. Without whom……we missed Thandie who is on location in Vancouver. We missed Genevieve, who flew in for the premiere and promptly

went down with a flu (mind yourself o, London weather). What a night though. What a night”.

Reports say Genevieve has fully recuperated and is said to have promised her fans that missed her at the premiere, to give them a surprise visit before the end of the year.

Shot in Calabar and Creek Town in South-South Nigeria, Half of a Yellow Sun reportedly cost $8million (about #12 billion) and is one of the most eagerly awaited films to come out of Africa in recent years.

Half of a Yellow sun is a British-Nigerian production based on the 2006 award-winning novel of the same title by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Chocolate City Gets Court Injunction Against Brymo

• Genevieve Nnaji

Actress Nuella Njubigbo Moves In With Nollywood Producer Tchidi Chikere

IT’S no longer news that the one-time sweet romance between the popular singer, Olawale Ashimi a.k.a Brymo and his record label has gone sour. For those who are not conversant with this development, the singer who became popular after his role in Ice-Prince’s monster hit “oleku” left the record label due to misunderstandings that ranges from the failure to give him the kind of publicity he craves to get and the release of his songs.

Now, Chocolate City has handed Brymo a Legal injunction “restraining him from recording, releasing, distributing any composition, song, musical works or carrying out any activity as a recording or performing artiste through or for the benefit of any person or organization other than Chocolate City pending the determination of the suit against him”.

According to sources, Brymo’s record deal with Chocolate City is still valid till 2016.

• Brymo • Tchidi and Nuella N O L LY W O O D actress, Nuella Njubigbo and Nollywood Movie producer, Tchidi Chikere has moved in together.

Nuella who just completed her NYSC some weeks ago has been dating Tchidi since even before he divorced his actress wife and mother of his three kids, Sophia Chikere.

Apparently Nuella moved out of her Okota family home and moved

into a new house with Tchidi at Graceland Estate in Ajah. The couple who are said to have moved in together some months ago are still decorating their new home.

Meanwhile, Tchidi’s ex-wife Sophia Chikere is not letting that get in the way of her happiness and she has moved on and is currently dating a UK based businessman.

D’Banj Wears N1million Jacket To Hennessy Artistry Finale POPULAR Nigerian Entertainer has once again shown his fans why he is

• D’Banj

one of the highest paid artists, as he recently wore a custom black blazer with uniquely designed and placed crystals to the Hennessey finale which took place recently at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Eja Nla as he is also called wore the single button blazer said to cost over 1 Million naira and was sent in from the United States. D’banj was the headlining act of the show

and he completed his look with a white shirt, gold necklaces, dark shades and black pants.

D’banj is making his money and he’s definitely spending it, regardless of what critics think. It would be recalled he also acquired a custom black suit “Suit of Money” worth $25,000 and made of real 100 dollar bills which he wore to his DKM concert held on June 23rd at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.

Compiled OKOGBA EMMANUEL .O. GSM: 07060576600

GLOBAL BUZZ Kanye Defends Bringing Jesus Lookalike On Stage KANYE offended quite a number of people when He brought a Jesus lookalike on stage during the first stop of his Yeezy tour in Seattle on Saturday.

Kanye now explains the method of his madness….Kanye tells a source “I had a friend of mine that is a pastor and we were discussing how we were going to deliver it. My girl even asked afterwards “isn’t that weird if Jesus comes on stage or something like that?” No we do play all the time where people play Jesus. What’s awesome

about Christianity is that we are allowed to portray God. We’re allowed to draw an image of Him. We’re allowed to make movies about Him.

• Kanye

Clint Eastwood’s Wife Files For Divorce CLINT Eastwood’s second wife is ending their marriage. Dina Eastwood cites irreconcilable differences in divorce papers filed recently. The 48-year-old and reality TV star is seeking spousal support and full physical custody of the couple’s 16year-old daughter.

Dina Eastwood filed for legal separation from the 83year-old Oscar winner recently. The Eastwoods have been married since March 1996. They met when she was assigned to interview the actor for her TV news station. Clint Eastwood was previously married to Maggie Johnson from1953 to 1984.

• Clint Eastwood and wife

Rihanna Burns Chris Brown Gifts And Letters In Spiritual Cleansing Ritual INSIDERS say Rihanna burned every gift and letter she ever received from Chris Brown in a spiritual cleansing ritual. Like many a heartbroken girl before her, Rihanna, 25, has taken drastic action to cut her ex out of her life-she’s burnt every memento of Chris Brown.

The decision follows an explosive interview in which unrepentant Chris, 24, forced to take anger management classes after assaulting her said: “I think the class I went to was a little bit sexist. It was beneficial because it made me cater more to a woman’s thoughts and needs and how to handle situations.

But it only tells you you’re wrong, you’re wrong, you’re

wrong.”

A source says: Ri-Ri’s disgusted. “He’s taken zero responsibility for what he did and is still painting himself as a victim. She’s told friends she’s totally done with him and held a ‘ritual burning ceremony’ of his letters and gifts.”

• Rihanna

Michael Jackson Tops List Of Highest Earning Dead Celebs MICHAEL Jackson is the top-earning dead celeb, according to a new list

• Michael Jackson

compiled by Forbes magazine. The king of Pop, who died in June 2009 of a drug overdose, is estimated to have earned $160 in the last year. This is more than what Forbes’ top-earning living celebrity, Madonna, made in the same period.

Jackson’s estate has a Montreal-based company to thank for most of its fortune. It was gathered that most of the revenue came from two Cirque du Soleil shows- Immortal and One.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

PERSPECTIVE Seven Ways On How To Imitate A Person You Admire IMITATION is not only a great form of flattery. It’s also a fantastic way to inhabit someone else’s shoe and grow your own self as a result. Imitating another person whom you admire or treat as a role model is the fastest way to learn something. As babies its how we learned about the world and how to speak, walk and interact with others. * Note the difference between imitation and slavish or mindless devotion: This article is firmly about imitating character traits for your personal improvement. In other words you are not trying to “become” the person you admire, you are not creating a shrine of fan, hero or celebrity worship to this person. The imitation referred to here is about being attracted to qualities that an admirable person has that you’d like to polish within yourself, It’s likely that you’re affected by your role model precisely because they have qualities that you habour but undernourished within yourself and seeing the prominent display of these qualities in action in another sperson your desire to do the same. Through concentration on the behaviour, beliefs, opinion and values of people you admire, you will

gain amazing insights into successful approaches to life, business, studies, work etc. * Imitation is about character building and refinement; you remain essentially you and your own creativity and sense of self drive completely from within you are simply seeking to improve these elements of your character that you believe is important by focusing on how others have developed these aspects of themselves. * Do not confuse imitating others with lack of thinking of yourself. To think that would be to misunderstand the purpose of imitating the character traits of a person you admire. Indeed you demonstrate that you are thinking for yourself by your ability to pick and choose the things you admire and believe in others rather than simply allowing yourself to be in complete awe or dislike of another person. * Bear in mind all the time that this is about hitching your star to proven strategies, traits and approaches revealed through others in the belief that these elements may well work for you too. * Study the person you admire: you will only imitate someone successful if you become their student. People

By EBUKA AZUBUEZE

who are too busy judging others and feeling jealous, annoyed or regret about another person’s success and achievements are unable to learn from the person because their own negativity stands in the way. Cease judging the person and start observing their approaches objectively, to identify the things they do, say and think that make such an impact on you (and on the world). * If the person is someone well known, read autobiography, articles that discuss the person’s successes and books or articles written by this person about topics they are expert in. * If you know the person or you have a chance to view them on screen or to hear them regularly, spend as much time as needed on this taking care to pay close attention, until you’re sure you have learned enough information about the thing you want. * Some of the things you might concentrate on include the other person’s appearance (for example, how they dress, style their hair, carry themselves etc) their manner of speaking and interacting (intonation, pauses, listening

“Avoid the feeling that limitation is a copout: Douglas Adams once summed up our reticence to learn from others most succinctly. “Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. Be open to using this unique talent of ours. By overcoming your fables about imitating another you improve your own chances of being more successful.”

Youths And Vices: THE fact that youthful exuberance runs in our blood is not a yardstick to engage in social vices, it is the period of making good and judicious use of your time, because they say time wait for no one.

One of the major cause of vices among youths in our society today is the nonchalant attitude of parent towards their children. Secondly, influence of friends can also be noted as one of the causes.

Poverty is another cause of vices, whereby some family cannot meet the standard in a home, eventually the children

engage themselves in different vices just to put food on their table.

Unemployment can also lead youths to vices in the sense that, in our society today, unemployment is a situation whereby qualified persons are denied the opportunity of job. This leads to vices i.e. a situation where someone has graduated and even served the country, unfortunately that person after walking around with his/her CV is unable to get a befitting job. The person will be left with no option than to engage in social vices like armed robbery, kidnapping, etc.

Inadequate educational

skills, responding with humour etc); typical ways they behave, both under pressure (calm reflectively, etc) and in general (positive assertive powerful and reassuring if you’ve chosen a role model with great qualities). And so forth. * See if it is possible to meet the person if you don’t already know them: perhaps they’re giving a seminar, a conference or delivering a speech somewhere if it’s business related, see if there are tour or networking opportunities where you can get to meet them in person.

Perhaps its someone in your workplace or social sphere that you’ve yet actually had the chance to meet. In that case, arrange an occasion where you can meet up, over coffee or a chat perhaps.

When asking to meet them don’t be afraid to explain to them that you’d like to get to know them better because you admire them for one thing or the other. This isn’t just flattery; it provides them with feedback that they’re doing something positive for others and they may even see this as an opportunity to actively involve themselves in helping you to grow. * You might also take your chance to stop them when you happen to come upon them in everyday life. You could be outside the office, cafeteria, classroom; any where by chance, don’t let the occasion slip by, smile, and say a greeting and ask them if they have a moment. * Get to know the person better: if you’ve got an opportunity to get to know the person you admire better then

seize the chance. Getting to know the person will enable you to learn, push beyond those nerves and say hello, comment on something they’ve done that has impacted you or ask them a quick question seeking advice. Help them to realize that you are genuinely interested in what they’re doing by expressing your admiration for them or for the things they do.

Perhaps citing one or two examples. Be straight up and tell them that you’d like to get to know them a bit better. * Be shameless in your imitation of people you admire: they’ve got the qualities you aspire to and believe in so don’t be afraid to try on their qualities for fit. You are honouring their living legacy and you’re helping your self by emulating their successes.

Use what you’ve learned to start limiting the other person’s traits, style, application, etc. Choose from the traits you most admire (such as business style, clarity in facial expressions, reassuring hand gestures or postures. Application to a project, the way they talk etc.). Start putting these elements you’ve noted into actual practice in your own life. * Start with the traits and approaches that you find easiest to imitate initially and walk your way up to harder ones. Don’t neglect to push yourself beyond your current boundaries though novelty is always scary but it’s definitely worth overcoming the fear to see just how far you can change your way of thinking and acting adapting other peoples successful approaches. * Avoid the feeling that limitation is a copout: Doug-

las Adams once summed up our reticence to learn from others most succinctly. “Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. Be open to using this unique talent of ours.

By overcoming your fables about imitating another you improve your own chances of being more successful.

6. Keep practicing until it works for you: concentrate hard on the trait habit or approach that you wish to emulate in this admired person and put it into practice regularly until it is perfect. If you fail to adapt it or put it into practice, keep trying until it falls into place for you.

Obviously, you will be adapting as you are adopting.

This is natural and to be expected: you are still you and everything you adopt must be tailored to that reality. And at times, you will find that it just doesn’t work for you that’s okay too. At least you tried.

7. keep it all in perspective: the idea of imitation in this article has been focused on looking onto the good traits and practices that work for you. The opposite extremes to hero worship this person and to cease applying your common sense and sense of PERSPECTIVE in your emulation of their traits and actions. Remember that every person you admire is as human as yourself and has the same frailties. Avoid patterning your entire life and belief, on this person or you risk ending up disappointed, hurt and possibly even devastated when that person fails to live up to your expectations.

What Are The Cause?

By DAVIDSON IZIEGBE

opportunities and illiteracy among youths cause vices.

Majority of youths in our society are not given the opportunities needed.

There is always a saying that an idle mind is the devil workshop. The absence of education makes them to indulge in vices especially for the girls who involved in prostitution because of money. Irresponsible parenting also breeds vices among youths as the bible postulates “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.

(Proverb 22:6).

An irresponsible parent will train their children to become irresponsible.

There is an adage, very funny one at that, a thief marries a prostitute, they will give birth to what kind of children?

A child depicts his family

character in the society (positive or negative). The family play a major role in the children’s life and thus goes a long way to affect the society positively or negatively as the case may be.

Communication and information flow also leads to social vices in the

sense that youths in our society involves in some various social network like Facebook, 2go, twitter etc. they meet different kind of people and become friends, communicate and get to know each other better. In doing this, youths can easily be led into social vices.

“A child depicts his family character in the society (positive or negative). The family play a major role in the children’s life and thus goes a long way to affect the society positively or negatively as the case may be.”

THE SUNDAY

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

NEWS EXTRA Socialist Party Eulogises Omojola

Dr. Apostle Hayford Alile, preenting a copy of his book “No Limit” to the Editor-inChief of the Voice Magazine, Pastor Elvis Iruh at Holland recently.

THE Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has described the life of late Baba Omojola Oluwide as an inspiration to both the young and old.

“Baba’s engagement in the politics and social issues in Nigeria was an inspiration to both the old and young. He helped and inspired the civil rights movement as well as political formations. He was an engaging Marxist and revolutionary socialist who took practical steps to effect the principles in our economy and politics”, it said.

In a statement signed by Chairman of its Publicity Committee, Professor Idowu Awopetu and 27 other

members, the SPN said, “He lived a life of service.

Throughout his 60 years of struggle, he was engaged with others not only in talking about the many ills confronting the Nigerian nation – the sorry state of government and politics, the plight of the working people, an economy run for the rich and powerful, the breakdown of social values but was actively involved in the struggle to ensure that the situation was reversed”.

While describing Omojola as “one of the leading lights of the revolutionary movement in

Dr Alile Bags Anthony Enahoro’s African Leadership Award 2013

APOSTLE Hayford Ikponmwosa Alike (OFR), a former Nigerian Stock Exchange Director, a staunch businessman and now a preacher of the gospel has become the first recipient of a special award created by the Voice news magazine based in the Netherlands through its Achievers Award to recognize and acknowledge the valuable contributions of Nigeria’s late Elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro who died close to three years ago.

According to the publisher of the magazine, Pastor Elvis Iruh, the award is going to be yearly for an outstanding African whose belief in true African leadership stands out. The award is not going to be given out to politicians alone but any individuals whose style of workmanship points to true leadership quality across Africa.

Therefore the organizers announced that they have commenced their search for the recipient of the award for 2014.

“We are searching for men and women who will inspire our younger generation to believe that there is a future for Africa through quality leadership at all level of human endeavours”.

Dr. Alile on receiving the award congratulated the Voice magazine on the initiative to recognize and award such a great Nigerian as Chief Anthony Enahoro who stood for whatever was progressive for Nigeria as a nation and Africa in general. He said he was principled to a fault; stood on his principles of what is right and lived for it. “His life should be taught to the younger generation”.

It is more benefiting that both late Chief Anthony Enahoro and Apostle Alile hail from the same state in Nigeria, Edo State.

He accepted the award with the intention that it would inspire others that they are being watched and they would be recognized one day for their contributions to the betterment of Nigeria and its advancement.

He appealed to the organizers to search even deeper as there

are more deserving Nigerians or Africans for such recognition for next year’s award event.

The Publisher, Pastor Elvis Iruh further disclosed that a book written in the memory of late Chief Anthony Enahoro written by a Nigerian Journalist, Eubaldus Enahoro could not be ready before the award ceremony but promised that the book project is top on the agenda of the award committee for that of 2014 where the children of late Chief Anthony Enahoro and the author of the book will be physically present at the award ceremony in the Netherlands.

Apostle Hayford Alile was to receive a second award at the Voice Achievers Award 2013; for Life time Achievers Award; this is in recognition of his continued service to humanity long after his retirement from public service.

Other Nigerians recognized at this year’s award included Governors of Plateau state, His Excellency, David Jonah Jang, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel

Eweta Uduaghan of Delta State, His Excellency, Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state and His Excellency, Barrister Sullivan Chime of Enugu state.

Others on the list were ArchBishop, Margret BensonIdahosa who received the Voice news magazine woman of the year personality award, Dr. Felix Omobude, Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, Ambassador Nimota Akanbi, Nigeria Ambassador to the Netherlands; Mr. Gesi Asamaowei, Mr. Adebayo Omipidan, Akinyi Weiniger (Kenya), Caroline Achieng Otieno (Kenya), Davidson Toussaint (Haiti), Chief Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio (Nigeria), First Lady of Akwa Ibom state, Engr. Emeka Unachukwu (Nigeria), President of Rivers State Chamber of Commerce, Gloria Tosin Sido (Nigeria), Nollywood Actress, Jeffrey Ekhator (Holland), Hon Joel- Onowakpo Thomas (Nigeria), the Chairman, Delta

THE former Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Most Rev. Maxwell Anikwenwa, has urged Nigerians to pray for President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage to the holy pilgrimage to Israel.

Anikwenwa made the call in his homily in honour of the late Mrs Lucy OkoliOgudebe, the mother of prominent politician, Mrs Uche Ekwunife, at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Igbo-Ukwu, in Aguata local government in Anambra.

“Nigerians should pray to God to give grace to the president and his entourage who are in Israel praying for the country,” he said.

lead a good life, Anikwenwa reminded them that there was no certainty and permanency on earth.

“Once you die, the soul goes out and there must be judgment,” he said.

In a letter to commiserate with Ekwunife, Jonathan prayed God to grant her the strength and wisdom to cope with the loss.

In his tribute, Senate President David Mark described Ekwunife’s mother as an epitome of honour and Christian values.

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, urged Ekwunife and her

State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Michael Bangura (Sierra Leone), Ms. Miet Smet (Belgium) President European Parliamentarians with Africa; Rev Moses Alagbe (Holland), Commissioner Chief Paulinus Akpeki (Nigeria) - Hon. Commissioner for Housing in

Delta state of Nigeria; Sarah Bomkapre Kamara (Sierra Leone), Hon. Sharon Gesthuizen (Dutch), Larry Bate Takang (Cameroon), Double A Entertainment (Holland), Nwanne Campo (Spain), Ms Diana Tambe (Cameroon), George Onuoha (Nigeria), Pat Edo (Ireland), Baba Alhaji Maiwada Alhaji (Nigeria) and Leila Aigbedion (Holland).

Nigeria”, the party said though the late nationalist and campaigner for social justice, liberty and democracy was “sad and disappointed, he remained undaunted to the end.

He was constant in the protests and demonstrations against unpopular government policies. He was a fighter, a campaigner for social, political and economic justice with an unshakeable belief in the viability of the Nigerian state”.

“Baba was a consummate debater and a patient listener, a dogged mobiliser and organiser and a good mixer. He had a sharp sense of humour which he often deployed to defuse heated debates. He worked for change and his generation taught us how valuable dissent is to democracy and accountable governance”, the SPN said.

Omojola, 75, a foremost Economist, Marxist and Revolutionary Socialist and advocate of a Sovereign National Conference, died last Saturday in Akure, Ondo State, where he had gone to present a memorandum to the National Dialogue Steering Committee.

Oba Of Lagos Turns 70, Urges Well Wishers To Shun Merriment

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM THE Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Riliwanu Babatunde Akiolu 1, has appealed to all those wishing to place advertorials for him, either in the print or electronic media as he turns 70 years on October 29, to forego such plans saying the current atmosphere in the country does not warrant any form of merriment.

In a statement from the Palace

Cleric Urges Nigerians To Pray For President Jonathan While urging Christians to family to take consolation in the fact that Okoli-Ogudebe lived a fulfilled life and left a legacy through her children.

Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, former governor of the state, Dame Patience Etiaba and wife of Governor Peter Obi, Mrs Margret Obi graced the occasion.

Also present were the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Mr Willie Obiano and his APC counterpart, Sen. Chris Ngige.

Okoli-Ogudebe, who died at the age of 84, was interred at Ngo village in Igbo-Ukwu.

signed by his media aides, Tokunbo Mumuni-Eshilokun and Kunle Odufuwa, His Royal Majesty advised such admirers, including individual, corporate and multi-national organizations, to direct funds meant for such advertorials to charity and instead join him in prayers for the peace, stability and unity of the country on that day.

Noting that a good number of individuals, corporate and multinational organizations have actually set in motion various programmes and activities to celebrate the occasion, the statement said much as the Oba appreciates such outpouring of goodwill, he would advise the people to cancel the programmes.

According to the statement, “His Royal Majesty has, accordingly appealed to those who have elected to honour him on his 70th Birthday to direct such funds to the Iga Idunganran Primary Health Care Centre and accordingly contact the Medical Director of the Iga Idunganran Primary Health Care Centre in order to obtain the list of needed drugs and equipment for the furnishing of the hospital”.

While expressing the appreciation of “His Royal Majesty to all donors to the Lagos Monarch Projects Funds which includes Ilupeju Town Hall and Anikantamo Town Hall and Health Centre”, the

statement, however, noted that the Iga Idunganran Primary Health Care Centre “which has since been put to public use”, still needs quite a number of equipment to bring it to international standard.

The statement also disclosed that N250 million has been collected so far for the Ilupeju Town Hall and Anikantamo Town Hall and Health Centre projects adding that the amount has since been deposited “in a special project account while the total some required is N650 million”.

On the programmes and events lined up by the Royal Palace to celebrate the occasion, the statement said the event would kick off on Saturday, October 26, with the special cleaning of the Palace and its environs which will end on Sunday, October 27. It enjoined all residents to join in the exercise.

On Monday, October 28, according to the statement, there would be a Muslim prayer between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the Palace followed by the installation of the new Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo by His Royal Majesty who would be assisted by members of the Lagos Council of Obas and Chiefs “in line with the customs of Lagos State as Oba Dosunmu, who reigned from 1853 to 1885, installed Kosoko

THE SUNDAY

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

ONCE upon a time, tortoise found that he could not get enough food to eat.

He lived near a market but of course he had no money.

He thought that there must be a way to get some of the food for himself.

At last he figured out a fine plan. When every one had gone to market, tortoise crawled to a certain palm tree a hundred metres or so from the open market.

Clumsily he wedged himself into a hole near the foot of the tree, safe inside, he began to sing.

“Dance, palm tree, dance, Dance all the way around The market-place.

Dance, palm tree, dance Dance all the way around The market place” Now tortoise was a wise creature with special magic powers. As soon as the palm tree heard the song, it picked up its roots and began to whirl down the forest path to the market, as he had never run before.

Imagine the surprise of the traders, shop-keepers, hawkers, sellers and buyers when they saw a palm tree dancing towards them. At first they stood amazed: “what is this” a dancing palm tree? This has never happened before! “They waited curiously to see what would happen. But as the palm tree came closer, one man exclaimed, this is

Story Time something strange. I’m getting out of here!” and he began to run.

Then everyone began to

But in their haste the people had left behind corn, yams, cassava, palm oil and all kinds of good things. When

ceremony to the marketplace.

As for tortoise, he had begun to realize that his good fortune must come to an end. “After all”, he remembered, there is no

The Dancing Palm Tree

By BINITIE ROSELINE

run here and there – mothers looking for their crying children, wives

the market place was completely quiet, tortoise ordered the palm tree to

god like the throat, it demands sacrifices daily”.

But although he had hidden himself inside the palm tree, he waited a long time before

C

hildren’s World

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POEMS

Boy On A Swing Slowly he moves To and fro, to and fro Then faster and faster He swishes up and down His blue shirt Billows in the breeze Like a tattered kite.

The world whirls by: East becomes west North turns South; The four cardinal points Meet in his head Mother!

Where did I come from?

When will I wear long trousers?

Why was my father jailed?

(Oswald mbuyisemi mtshali poet)

Homeless Not Hopeless

looking for their husbands.

In a very shot time the market-place was empty.

Baby Jude is one today, October 27, 2013. Happy birthday from Mum and Dad, Apostle & Mrs. Igwe.

stop dancing. Then he crawled out very slowly and went around the market gathering up the things he liked and storing them in the palm tree. When he was quite satisfied with what he had collected, he wedged himself back into the hole near the front of the palm tree and commanded the palm tree to dance back to its place in the forest.

Tortoise waited until dark and then crawled home with his booty.

For four market days the dancing palm tree came, filling the people with terror. The people sent delegations to the Oba, the chief of the village. But he laughed at their story when his trusted adviser came running and panting to the palace on the fourth market day to confirm the story the market people had told, the king decided to see for himself. The following market day, the king called all his household together and they went with great

commanding it to dance.

When the time came and went and the dancing palm tree did not appear, the delegates and the king’s adviser trembled, fearful that the tree would not appear at all, and that the king would account them liars. Just before high noon, however, the dancing palm tree whirled into the market-place. The people who were shopping ran away; the king’s messengers ran away; the king’s adviser ran away; all the king’s guards ran away.

But the king himself was very brave. It was unthinkable for a king to run. He stood still as the dancing tree moved closer and closer and closer, trying his best to hold onto his courage. Nevertheless, when the palm tree was very close, he just could not stay there any longer. Truly he had never seen anything like this in his life before.

And so he ran. To be continued.

We are the native of the street Holed-up under bridges We are part of your existence Major fragments of the globe As the day chameleons to night You slump in the warmth of your beds And the heart of love ones We also embrace the cozy Card board beds laid on stinks As the night injects us with cool breeze and endurance We sleep and dream And have conferences with The indigenes of the elusive world When it’s day, in bundle We pack our belongings And move on with our days Standings, kneeling, and bending To beg for aims just for the day Necessary part of your society Translators of your dreams Carries of your burdens Angels, we open gates Of your blessings We are the lack That are homeless, not hopeless This makes us rile at here after When death opens the gate To the second phase (poet Sola Owonibi)

THE SUNDAY

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

IT is not oppression of the world that endangers the church. It is the evil cherished in the hearts of those who are professed Christians that mostly retard the progress of the Church.

Envy, faultfinding, evil surmising among members have weakened the spirituality of many churches. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the fruit of righteousness is sown in them that make peace (Js 3:15-18): the strongest virtues that can be borne that Christ was sent into this world to save sinners is in our character being molded in harmony with His character, our wills being surrendered to His will. Let us not allow little differences to destroy our Christian fellowship. As we keep drawing near to God and to one another, we shall be as trees planted by the river. How fruitful shall we be! Christ said: My father’s glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples (Jn 15:8). Where we fully believe in prayer and Christ instruction is brought into our daily life as God’s chosen people, unity of action will be seen in our life.

Brothers will be bonded to brothers with golden bonds of the love of Christ. The Holy Spirit will bring about this oneness. He who sanctified Himself can sanctify His disciples. When we strive for this unity, it will come to us.

It is not a great crowd, large building, and outward display that God requires, but the harmonious action of a peculiar people, a chosen people, a precious people, united with one another, their life hidden with Christ. In the Church, every man is to stand in. his place, exerting a right influence in thought, word and deed. When all His workers in the church do this, and not wait for others, the work of God will be a complete and symmetrical whole. The Lord is calling on men of genuine faith, men of sound mind, men who recognize the difference between true and false.

Everyone should study and CHANGE OF NAME

BRAIMOH I formerly Miss Ozofu Theolyn Braimoh now Mrs. Ozofu Theolyn Dawodu. All former documents remain valid. General public and all concerned authorities should please take note.

The Church Where God Lives Is One (3)

practice the lessons given in the seventeenth chapter of John; and preserving our faith in truth for this time we are.

We need to have self control that will enable us to bring our habits into harmony with Christ.

Most Deacons or Deaconesses are not elected because they have qualities of dynamic personal and loving Christian involvement with people but because of their financial success, others were just asked to run for the position by their Pastor or Minister, some were elected to keep the “spiritual element” or even the Pastor from going off half-cocked.

Position is not by man but by God. God is a God of order and not disorderliness.

Division in the house of God is division of activities in the Church. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit gives them. There are different way’s of serving, but the same Lord is served.

There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service (1Cor 12: 1-11). The people of Judah were united in one accord and came to God to tell Him they did not rely on the strength of men in Israel.

The Lord spoke to them that they must not be discouraged or be afraid to face the battle.

The battle depends on God (2Chron 20:14-15). This is prophecy. The spirit of prophecy came upon the man called Jahaziel; the people heard him and were encouraged. Take your position. Don’t be afraid.

Don’t be discouraged. This is your position. Obey the, way God said it as a gift from God: Life is full of battles.

Anyone in the church obtains the same gift as Jahaziel. And when you continue, your own must manifest. Challenges must come on your gift but never look down to discourage your gift or other’s. When the church is not big, one person can take One or more positions. But when it’s getting big, that person goes to the position he is better and also the other person. We have many parts but one body. You perform in your area and I perform in my area. If a person shirks his role e.g. Sunday School Teacher and another person cannot perform that role, or everybody will be looking everywhere.

It does not matter whether you are an American, Greek,

By PRINCE BAYO OKUO

RELIGION

French, English or Latin, as long as you are baptized; we are members of one body. If you are a Pastor or Deacon, do not say you are Alpha and Omega. You cannot be a Pastor and a congregational

level, Jesus is the highest body and he humbled himself and came down, He build us up irrespective of tribes.

Being in the same level, we flow together. John humbled himself by decreasing so that

learn from his child e.g. computer.

Also in Christianity, we have new system. Paul converted last but he is running over them.

Those who converted years ago have to advance.

Advancing in age is not advancing in spiritual. You

member at the same time.

You cannot be a Deacon and a floor member. The Usher, the Sunday School Teacher, the Youths leader, the Children leader and even the floor member are all important in the church. If the body is covered with ears alone, how will it be seeing?

If body is covered with eyes alone, how will it smell? If the body is covered with mouth alone, how will it be hearing? Every part of the body is important (1 Cor 12:12-20). In the spiritual

Lord increased. So we must do. (Jn 1:29-30). Peter used to eat with pagans (gentiles) but when he saw Paul he hid himself even though older in faith than Paul (Gal 2: 11-14).

We ‘must not play tricks with our position. Don’t neglect the new timers as old timers.

The new timers have something you need to know but didn’t know due to ignorance. Things are getting more technological. So make up yourself to improve yourself. We are in a dispensation where a father

have to bow and learn in humility. That was what Peter did. Elizabeth (the older woman) humbled herself and honoured Mary (mother of Jesus). This was how she did when she saw that Mary was carrying the womb of Jesus..

(Lk 1:39-45). John was born before Jesus and the prophecy was fulfilled. John was the forerunner of Jesus but he said there was someone coming after him who is greater than him and whose shoes he is not worthy to put his feet (Jn 1:2930; 3:30).

“Most Deacons or Deaconesses are not elected because they have qualities of dynamic personal and loving Christian involvement with people but because of their financial success, others were just asked to run for the position by their Pastor or Minister, some were elected to keep the “spiritual element” or even the Pastor from going off halfcocked. Position is not by man but by God.”

People do not necessarily respond to the facts before them, but rather they respond to what they perceive before them, even if what they perceive is incorrect, Example: If someone lied to a leader against another person, the leader will not look at the facts on the ground before making his judgment but will base his decision on what he heard from others even if what they are telling him is incorrect. This thing is

still happening in the Church today. Someone told a new Pastor that a member in the church was having health problem and cannot perform effectively in the office he was going to hold. The Pastor refused to give that member the position without hearing from him. This is a sin. It is only God who knows the truth. A man found at the scene of a murder may not necessarily be the murderer.

Vengeance is for God. Some people destroy other people’s good work which God is using them to do e.g.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s effort in transforming Edo State being condemned by people in opposition party. These people are like Sanballat and Tobiah who rose up against Nehemiah when the Lord called him to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. But God gave Nehemiah the power to overcome them. Send your reaction on this message to Email: pbol 1030@yahoo.com or 07055599615.

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NEWS FEATURE OVER the years, many leaders especially those in the helm of affairs saddled with the responsibility of moving the nation forward lack vision. This lack luster development has drawn the nation backward, putting untold hardship on the people especially the less privileged in the society.

A visionary leader and an astute politician, Chief Paulinus D. 0. Akpeki M H R , F C I D A , H o n o u r a b l e Commissioner for Housing, Delta State in his lecture at the ZIK Leadership Conference and Award held in Abuja pointed out that, one of the major ways and means of empowering the people economically is through the housing sector. He said, it has the potentials to generate

terrorism and substantially address wealth distribution as well as security concerns. “This is achievable because investment in housing affects all facets of our life through its multiplier effect on economic development through forward linkages to the financial market and backward linkages to land, building materials, tools, furniture and labour markets”.

Chief Akpeki explained that, construction of a medium size (2/3 bedrooms) bungalow is capable of directly creating employment for an average of 76 workers and 100 housing units scheme engages 76,000 workers between the period of 12 to 18 months. “If in a year we build a 1,000 housing units estate in each of the 36 states of the federation and FCT, we would create a

labour namely bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters, tillers, iron benders, painters,

employment, increase productivity, raise standard of living and alleviate poverty.

He further stated that, it also has the capacity to reduce crime rates, insurrections, militancy,

workforce of 2,815,000 per annum’.

The Honourable Commissioner said this labour force consists of all professionals in the building industry as well as skilled and unskilled

excavators, electricians, suppliers of materials, furniture makers, food vendors, security men and others.

He stated that, right to adequate housing is considered a core human

right, quoting the Universal Declaration of Human Right adopted and proclaimed by UN

Chief P. D. O. Akpeki

including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control”.

Similarly, he said the 1976 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which is now binding on more than 149 countries including Nigeria has the most significant Universal Codification provision of the right to adequate housing in its article II Sub-Section (1). He expressed his regret on the nonchalant attitude of the government to provide suitable and adequate shelter for all citizens as enshrined in Section 16 Sub-Section (l)(d) of the

over the mantle of leadership.

“The fundamental objectives of the Housing Development Programme of the Uduaghan led administration are provision of shelter for Deltans without discrimination on the basis of place of origin, political affiliation, gender, religion and other restrictive delimitations; the effective translation of the basic tenets and objectives of the National Housing Development Programme, enshrined in the workerfriendly National Housing Fund; progressive development of basic social infrastructure in Delta State, supportive of the tenets and ideology of the 3-point Agenda of the tenets and ideology of the Uduaghan led government and indicative of the longterm commitment to and

1999 constitution.

To reverse this trend, there is urgent need for the cost of building materials to be subsidized by government with a view of opening up the building space. In order to bring down the cost of building, more efforts should be channeled towards the conduct of more research on how we can use local materials such as clay and other local building items”.

He appealed to government to reduce high cost of taxation and provide housing infrastructure if any meaningful development is to be achieved the housing sector.

Chief Paulinus Akpeki the Ugo of Okpe kingdom lauded the giant strides of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (CON), the Executive Governor of Delta State on the provision of housing infrastructure which has led to the availability of affordable and sustainable houses for the teaming Delta population since he took

belief in the selfaffirmation of the people, to whom Delta State Government owes its mandate, as guardian of the popular will and the provision of the minimum facilities of comfort and wellbeing for the generality of the population in line with Government’s sincere belief in the humanity of the electorate which is the source of its mandate”.

He pointed out that the state capital, Asaba including Warri, Agbor, Kwale, Koko, Oleh, Ozoro, Aboh and all adjoining areas of the nook and cranny of Delta State, the Ministry of Housing has left timeless infrastructure of low-cost housing units and facilities designed to give impetus to the governments resolve that by May 29, 2015, nearly every Deltan including the young of impressionable age could be voluble about the unparalleled and uncommon transformation of the housing development sector.

How To Reduce Terrorism And Other Social Vices In Society With The Housing Sector

Delta Towers, Abuja

General Assembly in 1948. Article 25 of the Declaration, states everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing-for himself and for his family

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INSIGHT

THOUGHT is the past tense of think. To think is a reflection of the mind; ponder action and a mind activity of a situation, event, place or person in a negative or positive way.

This denotes our minds and thoughts are interchangeable; they intertwine and cross each others path. The mind is a house where our thoughts live.

Thoughts are mental energy; they’re the currency that you have to attract what you desire.

When you think of someone, somewhere, and something, this action takes an energetic force within the body. You become what you think about all day long; you also become how you think all day long. You become what you think of whether you want or not.

D.H Lawrence once observed: “what you intuitively desire, that is possible to you” ask yourself, does my intuitive desire match up for good or bad?

There is a law in psychology that if you form a picture in your NEARLY two thousand years ago, the bible set out accurate social profile of our time, it stated in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money. Unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection. Not open to any agreement, without love of goodness, betrayers, head strong. Puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Few would deny that those negative traits have become more common in our time.

They become manifest in many ways including greed, prejudice, antisocial attitudes,

mind (thoughts) of what you would like to be and you keep and hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking.

“By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired” Nikos Kazantzakis. As Ernest Holmes has said “true imagination is not fanciful daydreaming. It is fire from heaven”. It is psychological believe that our thoughts makes our dreams at times. We dream of somewhere, somebody, or something we think about in most cases. Every man is free to rise as far as he’s able or willing, but it’s only the degree to which he thinks that determines the degree to which he will rise”. Ayn Rand.

While light travels at the rate of 18600 miles per second, thoughts virtually travel in no time. Thought is finer than either, the medium of electricity. In broadcasting, a singer sing beautiful song at Calcutta.

You can hear her nicely through the radio set in

Power Of The Mind

By EJIROGHENE ONOJETA

your, own house. All messages are received through the wireless. Even so your mind is like a wireless machine. A saint with peace, poise, harmony and spiritual waves sends out into the world thoughts of harmony and peace.

They travel with lightening speed in all direction and that the minds of persons and produce in them also similar thoughts of harmony and peace.

Whereas a world by man whose mind is full of jealousy, revenge and hatred sends out discordant

thoughts which enter the minds of thousands and still in them similar thoughts of and discord.

A thought is as much solid as a piece of stone. We may cease to be, but our thoughts can never die.

Every change in thought is followed by a vibration of its matter (mental), thought as a force needs special needs a special kind of subtle matter in its working. The stronger the thoughts, the earlier the fructification. Thought is followed and given a particular direction in its degree of focus and given

direction, its directive in the work it is sent out to accomplish. (SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA).

To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness”.

This is a striking caution to desist and resist evil thoughts as what we see, hear, feel, touch confucius listen to defines our thought. Learn to think positively. Let good thought swallow your thoughts like you seriously swallow moulds of Eba. Our thoughts are magnificently powerful that can destroy a person’s life or a whole nation.

Boko Haram sprung up

“Learn to think positively. Let good thought swallow your thoughts like you seriously swallow moulds of Eba. Our thoughts are magnificently powerful and can destroy a person’s life or a whole nation.”

Roots Of Injustice

By LOVETH OKPOKPO

corruption, and extreme financial inequality.

Consider these individually GREED: “Greed is healthy” and “Greed is good” are catch phrases we may sometimes hear. But they are lies. Greed hurts! For example, greed often lead to accounting fraud and reckless borrowing. The result which is financial collapse, have hurt many people. Granted that some of the victims are greedy

from thoughts of one evil soul to another, that’s how they initiate people. They lay vast emphasis on the mind controlling the thoughts to be destructive and evil coerced. With your thoughts you can rip a lady’s apparel young men, while some people can use theirs to kill someone bury and perform the burial rites. The mind can also be use to repair and save lives; it’s a matter of choice. Think positively and positive things will come your way. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8.

themselves. But their number also includes hardworking people. Some of whom have lost homes and pensions. .PREJUDICE: Prejudiced people judge others unfairly and even discriminate against them on the basis of ethnicity, skin, color, sex, social status, or religion. For example, a United Nations committee found that in one South American Country, a pregnant woman died in a hospital because she had

been discriminated against, in another facility, on the basis of her ethnicity and socio-economic background. Taken to it’s extreme, prejudice has evened to the gross injustices of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

A N T I S O C I A L ATTITUDES: Each year ten of thousands of families are torn apart, hundred of thousands of lives are ruined, and millions of naira worth of properties destroyed as a result of antisocial

behaviours. So endemic are violence and aggression to our society that it is not hard to imagine future historians categorizing the late twentieth century, not as the space age or the information age; but as the antisocial age, the time when society went to war against itself. Since that book was published in 1997, there has been no improvement in attitudes and behaviour.

CORRUPTION: a report on corruption in south Africa mentioned that, over seven

“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money. Unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection. Not open to any agreement, without love of goodness, betrayers, head strong. Puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

year period, more than 81 percent of the $25.2 billion provided to a provincial health department was improperly accounted for.

Money that should have gone towards maintenance of hospitals, clinics and health centers in the province, was unspent.

In our country today this is the major problems (corruption that affects or causes injustices.

When human efforts fail to get results, should we just give up? No! Though, we can do something. We can look at ourselves. Ask yourself can I be more just in my dealing with others?

Are there certain areas in which I can improve? No matter how powerful, rich, or influential a person may be, he is still human and cannot eliminate injustice, indeed even the powerful suffer injustices, grow old, die. Overcoming injustice is to love-not mere sentiment or romantic attraction. But self-sacrificing love for others such love is kind, does not look for it’s own interests.

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Racism Row Smear Campaign - CSKA Chief A leading official from Russian side CSKA Moscow has claimed that accusations of racism against the club’s fans are the result of a British “smear campaign”.

CSKA have been charged by European governing body UEFA after Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure complained that he was subjected to monkey chants during his side’s mid-week Champions League victory in Moscow.

UEFA president Michel Platini has also called for an inquiry into the incident, but CSKA general director Roman Babayev says that it has been “exaggerated” by the British media.

“The British do constantly try to find any reason to smear Russian football. It is totally possible that in this case we’re running into this same intention,” Babayev told Saturday’s edition of the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

“I read the main English publications and they are raising a real hysteria. They are writing that the fans wanted to almost lynch the dark-skinned players on the field. And most journalists probably didn’t even watch the match.”

Platini says that Romanian match referee Ovidiu Hategan failed to observe correct protocol as he did not ask for an appeal to supporters to stop the chanting to be broadcast inside the stadium during the game.

UEFA is scheduled to release the results of its investigation once the disciplinary case against CSKA has been assessed by its disciplinary body on Wednesday.

Babyev added: “We are preparing a legal argument.

We’re not denying the problem of racism on the whole, including at Russian stadiums, but in this case it seems that the situation is exaggerated.

“The match delegate didn’t hear any outburst of racism toward Yaya Toure and so, of course, didn’t document any during the course of the match.”

Toure has rejected accusations that he fabricated his claims, telling the BBC World Service: “I am not deaf. Other people must have seen it.”

He also raised the prospect of black players boycotting the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes that would be counterproductive.

“It (racism) will stop, I tell you, but it is not only about what FIFA can do,” Blatter told Oxford University students during an address at the Oxford Union, in quotes reported by the Daily Telegraph.

“FIFA has six confederations and 209 national associations and they have to take responsibility, too. And in the case of Toure it is about UEFA.

DAVID Beckham hailed Alex Ferguson for helping get his career back on track after his infamous 1998 World Cup sending-off made him a hate figure in England.

In an interview with The Times newspaper, Beckham

said the Manchester United manager was a tower of strength as he dealt with national vilification.

The comments came after Ferguson said Beckham had become fame-obsessed and

He suggested a boycott, but a boycott has never been any solution.

“We have already seen boycotts of the Olympic Games,

and what was the result? Nothing — because if you have a problem, you cannot run away from it. The problem is still there. You have to solve it, and we know this.”

Platini Issue DFB Warning UEFA president Michel Platini has praised Germany as a “strong candidate” following the German Football Association’s (DFB) announcement to bid for the 2024 European Championship, but warned it could jeopardise their hopes of staging the final

Michel Platini, UEFA President

...UEFA Starts Internal Probe Into Racism Protocol

EUROPE’S football union, UEFA, on Friday launched an internal investigation into why match officials did not act according to rules.

This was in connection with alleged racist incidents during CSKA Moscow’s Champions League match with Manchester City.

UEFA on Thursday opened

disciplinary proceedings against the Russian club after City midfielder Yaya Toure said he was racially abused by a section of CSKA fans.

Toure said he informed Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan about the incidents

during Wednesday’s game.

Based on UEFA protocol, the referee must halt the game and ask for a public announcement to stop racist behaviour.

Suspending the match for a time and ultimately abandoning it are the two further steps

thought he was bigger than his boss.

Beckham was sent off in England’s second round match against Argentina for kicking out at opponent Diego Simeone, in a game England went on to lose on penalties and go crashing out of the tournament.

The midfielder was demonised the following season with Beckham receiving death threats and being booed by away fans, while effigies were hung and torched.

But the midfielder came second in FIFA’s World Player of the Year vote as he helped United to win the English Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League.

“Sir Alex was fantastic,” Beckham said.

“He gave me huge strength with his support after the sending-off. The United fans were huge, too.

“In some ways, I am glad I went through it. It made me stronger. When people criticise you, it is not a reason to give up,

but to work harder and believe in yourself.”

Describing the extent of his vilification, Beckham said: “Nothing could have prepared me for what happened.

“When a guy broke into my back garden late at night to try to intimidate me, it was almost the last straw. There were death threats, too.

“Suddenly, I was one of the most hated men in the country. I remember the first away game at West Ham the following season, I had to be transported into the ground under a police escort. The faces surrounding the team bus were twisted with anger.”

In Ferguson’s autobiography out this week, the Scot said Beckham became obsessed with fame in the latter years of his Old Trafford career.

He said the player’s focus shifted after he married Spice Girls singer Victoria Adams in 1999.

Ferguson said he decided to sell Beckham to Real Madrid after an incident in February 2003 when he accidentally

according to UEFA anti-racism protocol.

“UEFA President Michel Platini has requested that the UEFA administration immediately conduct an internal investigation to understand why the three-step protocol established to deal with incidents of a racist nature was not implemented,’’ UEFA said.

Beckham Says Fergie Strength Revived His Career

David Beckham

kicked a boot into the midfielder’s face during a postmatch argument.

of the 2020 European Championship.

DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach revealed the news of the bid at the 41st Ordinary DFB Congress in Nurnberg on Thursday, in which Platini was in attendance.

“Germany is a strong candidate,” Platini is quoted as saying by Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

The UEFA chief added that a decision as to who will host the tournament is still far away.

“Oh dear! I’ve got to take care of the 2016 European Championships, then the 2020 and then it’s time to see where we are with 2024,” he said.

The 2024 bid could, however, conflict with Germany’s plans to stage the final of the 2020 European Championship.

To celebrate UEFA’s 60th anniversary, Euro 2020 will take place in 13 different countries across Europe for the first and last time.

In early September, the DFB decided to name Munich as the German candidate city for the tournament.

Like the English Football Association, the DFB has decided to run for the final package — which includes both semifinals and the final — as well as the group package.

But Platini said: “When you bid for the 2024 European Championship, it could mean that you won’t get any votes for the 2020 final.

“But the vote is open.

Everyone is free to vote for whomever he wants to vote for.

The same applies for France.

They have the 2016 European Championship, and this makes it difficult to bid for the 2020 final.”

UEFA will make a decision on the host cities for Euro 2020 in September 2014.

AC Milan Hire Minder For Mario Balotelli

MARIO Balotelli has been assigned a former police officer to act as personal assistant by AC Milan in a bid to keep him out of trouble off the field.

The Italy international continues to attract unsavoury headlines, most recently for breaking a reporter’s microphone in Naples and, on Tuesday, for leaving the San Siro without wearing official club uniform or colours.

Such incidents should be limited in future after the Rossoneri assigned Filippo Ferri to keep a close eye on the player, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Ferri, who was prohibited from official police activity for his part

in heavy-handed treatment of protesters at the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001, already works as a security advisor for the Rossoneri and is therefore wellknown within the club.

His brief will be to ensure Balotelli’s off-field behaviour no longer eclipses the talent he shows on the field, although the president of the Italian Football Association (FIGC), Giancarlo Abete, says Ferri will not be needed when the forward is on international duty.

“Balotelli is one of us and, within the national team, everybody assists each other,” he said. “In any case, it’s up to his club to evaluate this.”

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I’m No Bloodsucking Parasite - Blatter

French Tax Proposal Scandalous - Seydoux

FIFA PRESIDENT Sepp Blatter has hit out at portrayals of world football’s governing body as a corrupt cabal of ruthless parasites.

In a speech Friday to the was going into women’s Oxford Union debating society football.

“There are those who will tell at Britain’s prestigious Oxford University, the 77-year-old said you that FIFA is just a FIFA was more Robin Hood than conspiracy, a scam, accountable to nobody and too powerful for Bond villain.

“Perhaps you think I am a anyone to resist,” the Swiss said.

“There are those who will tell ruthless parasite sucking the lifeblood out of the world and out you of the supposed sordid of football! The Godfather of the secrets that lie deep in our Bond FIFA gravy train! An out-of- villain headquarters in the hills touch, heartless schmoozer!” he above Zurich, where we said, according to The apparently plot to exploit the unfortunate and the weak.

Independent newspaper.

“They would have you believe “There are not many names that the media haven’t thrown at that I sit in my office with a me in the last few years. And I sinister grin, gently stroking the would be lying to you if it did chin of an expensive, white not hurt, even if you know that Persian cat as my terrible sidekicks scour the earth to force it goes with the territory.

“You would have to have a countries to host the World Cup heart of stone for it not to hurt. and to hand over all of their You ask yourself, what have I money,” he said.

“You might have been led to done?”

Defending FIFA, he told believe FIFA is the evil Sheriff undergraduates that hosting the of Nottingham of football. But 2010 World Cup in South Africa the truth is we have more in had “changed people’s common with Robin Hood.”

Blatter has been roasted in the perceptions and people’s prejudices”, while more money British press in recent years,

AFRICA may never win the World Cup because, just like Asia, it is badly underrepresented at the big event, according to Joseph

Blatter, president of the world governing body FIFA. “I would like to see globalisation finally taken

FIFA on Friday criticised attempts by controversial Ukrainian party Svoboda to exploit a visit to its Swiss base, as campaigners called for a clampdown on far-right displays in Ukraine’s football stadiums.

“We fully regret any attempts by the said group to manipulate or link their political ideas to FIFA within the scope of an informal visit,” a spokesman for world football’s governing body told AFP. The behaviour of Ukraine fans is in focus as the 2014 World Cup playoffs against France loom,

inside FIFA’s building with a large red-and-black flag.

The flag, whose colours stand for blood and soil, is commonly used by Ukrainian far-right and nationalist groups and is in the spotlight of match monitors from the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network.

FARE was mandated by European football’s governing body UEFA to draw up a list of xenophobic and offensive symbols in the run-up to Euro 2012, hosted by Ukraine and neighbouring Poland, and the flag was among them.

“Governing bodies such as FIFA, as well as national federations, have a responsibility not to let football become a tool for legitimising extremism,” Rafal Pankowski of Poland’s Never Again Association, part of FARE, told AFP. “We put a lot of effort into eliminating racist and far-right behaviour from Polish and Ukrainian stadiums before, during and after Euro 2012. It would be a shame if the racist extremists are allowed a foothold in Eastern European football again,” he added.

especially after England’s failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup, in which they garnered just two votes out of 22 — one of them their own, as Russia won out.

There have also been allegations in British newspaper exposes about goings-on behind the scenes in FIFA circles and general disenchantment with the organisation.

In his lecture, Blatter said it was a “falsehood” that “we at FIFA have something against the United Kingdom and its people”.

Better known for roles such as a bloodied undercover cop in heist-gone-wrong movie “Reservoir Dogs”, Tim Roth is set to depict life in the corridors of football power by playing Blatter.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter

...Says Africa, Asia Underrepresented At World Cup

Ukraine Nationalists’ Flag Stunt Vexes FIFA and in the wake of incidents during qualifying matches.

A delegation from Svoboda including lawmaker Ihor Miroshnychenko — known for an anti-Semitic outburst against Ukraine-born Hollywood star Mila Kunis — visited FIFA’s Zurich headquarters earlier this month.

He and a fellow lawmaker had their photograph taken with Walter De Gregorio, FIFA’s communications and public affairs chief, which FIFA said was unplanned.

The two politicians also posed

seriously, and the African and Asian national associations awarded the status they deserve at the World Cup,’’ Blatter said in the latest FIFA magazine, The Weekly.

Europe (53 federations, 13 qualifiers) and South America (10, 4.5 plus hosts Brazil) will have 18 or 19 teams at the 2014 edition although their 63 members are less lower than the 100 from Africa (54, 5) and Asia (46, 4.5).

“Africa, the continent with the most member associations, is woefully underrepresented at the World Cup, with just five places.

“As long as this remains the case, African teams may never win an intercontinental trophy, regardless of the progress on the playing side,’’ Blatter said in the magazine’s presidential note.

LILLE president Michel Seydoux has warned that clubs are not calling the government’s bluff by threatening the first strike action in French football since 1972.

A total of 43 clubs from France’s top divisions voted unanimously on Thursday not to carry out Ligue 1 or Ligue 2 fixtures on the weekend of Nov. 29.

The clubs are protesting plans to tax all earnings over one million euros per year at a rate of 75 percent.

French clubs have a combined deficit of 100 million euros and they fear the proposed tax — which would be paid by employers, rather than employees — could have a profound impact on football in the country.

“I understand that the public might be surprised by the players’ wages,” Seydoux told Le Parisien.

“But it’s their employers, the clubs, who will be taxed, not the players. If you’d said to me that we were going to be taxed on our profits, I would have accepted that.

“But you can’t tax us on our losses. It’s totally sinful and scandalous.”

Seydoux said that only Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco could cope with having such a tax imposed on them.

“In what country in the world do they make employers of lossmaking companies pay the wages of their employees?,” he asked in L’Equipe.

“This tax will cost us another 4.8 to 7.2 million euros. In the last three years our expenses have already risen by 15 percent.

We’re fed up. We’re once again going to be forced to sell our best players.”

Ahead of a meeting with French President Francois

A World Cup Without Ronaldo Or Ibrahimovic

By SUCCESS OSAYI JUST as the eight European nations who made the play-offs of the UEFA qualification for the world cup discovered who stood between them and Brazil 2014, lovers of classy football were left in disappointment, getting to know that one of two of the world’s best players will not be featuring in Brazil, come June 2014.

The draw for the UEFA world cup qualifying play-off games took place on Monday the 21st of October, 2013 and the standout game of the qualifying round was the match between Sweden and Portugal.

With the likes of France and Sweden unseeded for the draws, Portugal were 2/4 to be paired with a team that would be sure to cause them problems and so it happened. Two rounds of fixtures to be played between two of the best teams in Europe for a place at next summer’s world cup.

It definitely meant that either Portuguese megastar Cristiano Ronaldo or Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimovich would definitely miss out on the chance to play in the game’s biggest competition as their respective countries would be looking to them to secure them a place in Brazil.

Ronaldo has appeared at the world cup twice already at just 28. His first was back in 2006 in Germany when as a 21 year old, with massive potentials and lots of raw edges, his Portugal went as far as the semi finals, only to lose to France spearheaded by a master class display from the now retired Zinedine Zidane.

He again appeared at the 2010 world cup in South Africa, this time as a more matured player and the undisputed star, leader and captain of the Portugal national team. But this time, his team could only manage a round-of-16 finish as they

suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Iberian counter-part and close neighbours, Spain.

He has scored a total of two goals at the world cup which is less than expected of someone of his status but his mere presence at the world cup adds the needed attention and interest that the world cup is often known for. He is widely admired not just for his style of play but for his stern reluctance to lose as well as his overwhelming self-believe that often takes the shape of arrogance.

His 63 million fans on Facebook and his 22 million twitter followers made up of fans of Manchester United, Real Madrid, people from Portugal and the world in general are crucial to not just the needed attention but also the potential revenue FIFA stands to make from the competition.

Then there is the person of Ibrahimovich. Football fans reactions towards Ibrahimovich

is more of a matter of respect than admiration mostly down to the swagger in which he conducts his off the pitch business and the way he answers journalists.

He may not have the breathtaking club statistics like players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but he is often referred to as “Ibragadabra” because of his unquestionable ability to change a game at an instant with seemingly impossible goals, sometimes, single handedly.

His presence in the Swedish national team transforms them from barely descent to fairly great. Spear heading the attack of the Scandinavian country, the team can take on anyone and it never comes as a surprise when they pull an upset against the great football nations.

His presence at the world cup will do the profile of the competition unavoidable good and neutral fans will definitely want to see one of those his magical moments next summer.

As soon as the play-off draws were made and the fixtures announced, fans took to social media and other sites on the internet to express their frustration at the certainty of one of these great players not featuring at the world cup.

The likes of Espnfc.com and goal.com comment sections had 100s of comments corroborating this feeling with neutral fans and lovers of classy

Cristiano Ronaldo

football alike expressing their disappointment at having to watch a world cup without one of two of the most inspirational players in the world.

With both Portugal and the Sweden national team arguably at the same strength going into this round of fixtures, the odds are justly around 50-50 and the official second best player in the world, Ronaldo, may even be the victim.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Omeruo Impresses Mourinho

Glo Premier League: Nembe

City To Lay Off Players

THE management of Nembe City FC of Yenagoa says it plans to lay-off some players for “performing below expectation’’ during the just-concluded 2012/2013 Glo Premier League.

The club’s General Manager, Meremu Okara, told newsmen on Friday in Yenagoa that the management also planned to shop for experienced players to strengthen the team.

NAN reports that Kano Pillars FC won the league which was concluded on October 20.

“Definitely, some of the players will be dropped and we will bring in some new players to strengthen the team.

“Some of these players did not meet our expectations at all. Some will be leaving on their own, so we need to replace them.

“We must bring in some experienced players; we also need to bring in new players from the grassroots that we can also expose. That has been our style,’’ Okara said.

He said the management would meet soon to draw a blueprint for the club with a view to repositioning it for better performance in the coming football season.

“Although we have not really sat down to discuss the plans for next season, we want a drastic improvement.

“The management will meet in the next few days to set out our plans for next season,’’ Okara added.

On the coaching crew, he said: “I am not too sure of any change among the coaches. I doubt if we will be changing our coaches.’’

He commended the efforts of the club’s Chairman, Runsom Baribote, whom, he described as a great pillar and motivator of the team.

“I must give kudos to Baribote because it has not been easy. You know how capital-intensive football is; he has really tried for Nembe City.

“He has been able to play all our matches and settle match bonuses. People have seen his efforts, especially the good people of Nembe.

“Nembe people have started to come in to support the team. If we continue to get this kind of communal support, then the sky is our limit,’’ Okara said.

He said that unlike in the just-concluded season where the club’s concern was about escaping relegation, the 2013/2014 season would see Nembe City with a new approach in its quest for honour.

“Now that we have retained our status in the league, we have seen, observed and learnt a whole lot of things.

“For the next season, we are going to set a target and pursue it to achieve success.’

U17 World Cup

Eaglets Battle Iran For Q/Final GOLDEN Eaglets of Nigeria will face Iran on Tuesday for a place in the last eight of the on-going FIFA U17 World Cup in the UAE. time.

This Round of 16 match Eaglets finished as leaders will be at the familiar city of in Group F with seven points, Al Ain, where Golden Eaglets while Iran were runners-up in beat Mexico 6-1 and drew 3- Group E with five points.

3 with Sweden.

All Africa’s four flag The game will be played bearers are through to the last on Tuesday by 5 pm Nigerian 16 with Morocco and Cote

d’Ivoire even staging an allAfrican clash in this knockout stage of the tournament.

Tunisia will take on Argentina in another Round of 16 battle.

The parings in the Round of 16 are: Nigeria vs Iran Italy vs Mexico Japan vs Sweden

Brazil vs Russia Honduras vs Uzbekistan Uruguay vs Slovakia Morocco vs Côte d’Ivoire Argentina vs Tunisia All the games will be played on Monday 28th October and Tuesday 29th, October.

Athletics Coach Decries Dearth Of Local Competitions AN athletics coach, Ibrahim Showunmi, on Friday blamed the dearth of local competitions for the poor performance of Nigerian athletes in continental and intercontinental championships.

‘There are obviously few or no events to challenge our athletes and this is very

Emenike’s Brace Lifts Fenerbahce EMMANUEL Emenike continued his impressive run at Turkish club Fenerbahce on Friday with a brace in a 31 win over Gaziantepspor.

Nigeria international Emenike, who had experienced a goals drought for seven weeks, broke the duck last weekend when he scored the winner for his team at Erciyesspor.

The former Spartak Moscow forward opened scoring for his side in the 14th minute and completed his brace with the last goal in the 86th minute.

He has now scored three

• Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo with his Chelsea teammates Oscar and Michael Essien during club’s training session.

KENNETH Omeruo has caught the eye of manager Jose Mourinho during Chelsea training, MTNFootball.com has specially learnt.

“Kenneth has impressed Mourinho at training with Chelsea and it is looking very good for him now since his surgery for a shoulder problem,” the player’s adviser Chika Akujobi informed MTNFootball.com “The Special One has taken special interest in the player.

He wants to give him a chance but first Kenneth must regain full match fitness.”

Mourinho is expected to soon take a decision on the immediate future of the 20year-old defender, whether he stays put at Chelsea or goes on a short-term loan.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has already said he hopes to call up Omeruo for next month’s World Cup final playoff against Ethiopia in Calabar.

Meanwhile, Omeruo has expressed satisfaction over the recent screening by his academy in Abuja.

The screening exercise was rounded of on Friday with the Jobisports Academy winning a test game 4-0 against DEK Queen FC of Abuja.

Sadiq Obekka scored the opening goal before Andrew Chimezie grabbed a brace and Suleman completed the routing.

goals for Fenerbahce, who lead the table with 22 points from nine games.

Emmanuel Emenike

dangerous, particularly with the 2014 All Africa Games and the Commonwealth Games coming up.

“There is no build up to the competitions for the athletes.

Meanwhile, they are expected to compete with other countries that have been in serious preparations,’’ Showunmi, a Lagos State Track and Field Coach, said.

He said that it was important to have a series of competitions to allow the athletes to be able to hone their skills and prepare adequately for the international competitions.

“There is no magic to the nation’s victory at global events, except athletes are thoroughly prepared and constantly engaged in regular competitions,’’ the coach said.

According to him, the dearth of competitions has also taken its toll on athletes who no longer turn-out for training.

“Some of the athletes no longer come for training as before and we cannot compel them,’’ Showunmi said.

He said that the quest to

identify athletes to replace the ageing ones should be paramount during national events.

The coach said that now was the time to discover budding athletes and urged sports authorities, corporate organisations and individuals, to collaborate with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), in that direction.

Manu Garba, Golden Eaglets Coach

I’m Happy At Eaglets Progress

Ex-international Waidi Akanni on Friday expressed satisfaction at the progress made by the U-17 team at the ongoing 2013 FIFA World Cup in the United Arab Emirate (UAE).

Akanni, who won a bronze medal with the Flying Eagles in the 1985 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Russia, spoke with newsmen in Lagos shortly after the team humbled their Iraqi counterparts 5-0.

According to him, the team prepared adequately for the tournament.

They won their first match 6-1 against Mexico, drew

- Akanni

their second, 3-3, against Sweden and wrapped up the group stage with a 5-0 bashing of Iraq.

“The team’s preparation has paid off, so far; I think that at this point, we should refrain from pressurising them.

“The tournament is meant for football development, which is what we should be particular about; it is either they win or lose,’’ Akanni said.

Akanni, also a former Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, said

every member of the squad had the potential to play in the Super Eagles squad.

“I strongly believe that every member of the U-17 squad has what it takes to proceed to the U-20 and even the Super Eagles; that’s how it should be.

“We need to ensure their progress into the next cadre; with that, our football development will be guaranteed,’’ he added.

Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets have won the competition a record three times — 1985, 1993 and 2007. They were runners-up in 1987, 2001 and 2009.

THE SUNDAY

31

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Vincent Kompany Out Of Chelsea Clash VINCENT Kompany has been ruled out of Manchester City’s Premier League clash at Chelsea today.

The City captain has missed their last two games with a thigh injury and manager Manuel Pellegrini, who did not take him to Russia for Wednesday’s Champions League win over CSKA Moscow, had hoped he would be able to return for the clash at Stamford Bridge.

But the Belgian defender will not recover in time, with Pellegrini saying: “Vincent is still injured. He will not have a chance to play.”

Midfielder Javi Garcia has deputised for Kompany in defence for the last two games but summer signing Martin Demichelis is also fit after a hamstring injury and could make a belated debut following his four million pound move from Atletico Madrid.

Jack Rodwell, who has only made one first-team appearance

this season, is also back in contention.

Sergio Aguero goes into the game against Jose Mourinho’s side having scored eight goals in his last six games, with braces in the last week against both West Ham and CSKA Moscow.

And manager Pellegrini believes the in-form forward is one of the top five footballers on the planet.

He said: “I always talk with Sergio [and tell him] that he for me is one of the five top players in the world and he must try to demonstrate it in every game he plays. He is playing with more intensity when we don’t have the ball. He has a lot of quality to make the difference.”

But Pellegrini deflected the credit for Aguero’s fine form, explaining: “He was an important player also in the past.

With his goal Manchester City won the title [in 2012]. We hope in the future he will continue being a very important player for the club.”

Crystal palace’s Marouane Chamakh shields the ball against Arsenal strikers

Ten-Man Arsenal See Off Brave Palace To Stay Top

Vincent Kompany

Mikel Arteta scored and was sent off as Arsenal ground out a 20 win at managerless Crystal Palace to stay top of the Premier League.

Serge Gnabry.

Arteta put the Gunners ahead But he was sent off 20 minutes from the spot early in the second later after referee Chris Foy half after Adlene Guedioura’s deemed that his foul on reckless tackle on substitute Marouane Chamakh denied the

former Arsenal striker a goalscoring opportunity.

Palace threw everything at the Gunners but were denied by a string of fantastic saves from Wojciech Szczesny.

And with time running out

There are different ways to go about what you say and what you don’t say.”

Pellegrini is adamant that Mourinho’s mind games will not unsettle him, adding: “I never got involved and I will not get involved now.”

And the 60-year-old said he had no regrets about going to Malaga, explaining: “I can’t tell you what is in Mourinho’s mind.

I can tell you I had a lot of chances to manage different clubs after Real Madrid and I took a life decision to go to

Malaga. I am very happy.”

But Pellegrini insisted he has no feud with Mourinho.

He added: “I am not telling you I don’t like Jose. I am a different person. [It is a] different style, not only [in] football. He has [won] a lot of titles. He has his way and I respect him.”

Pellegrini was linked with the Chelsea job last season and claimed he was unsure if the London club had approached him.

He said: “I can’t confirm that because my agent talked with a lot of clubs. I can’t tell you.”

Pellegrini Coy On Mourinho Feud MANUEL Pellegrini drew a comparison between himself and Jose Mourinho by insisting he will never discuss other managers in the way his Chelsea counterpart does and saying that he takes a very different approach to management and life.

Mourinho replaced Pellegrini as Real Madrid manager in 2010 and the Portuguese derided his predecessor’s achievement in finishing as runners-up in Spain by saying that: “Second place is the first loser.”

And Mourinho criticised Pellegrini for the job he took after his dismissal at the Bernabeu, insisting: “If Madrid were to fire me, I wouldn’t go to Malaga. I’d go to a top-level team.”

The two coaches come head to head again today when Manchester City visit Stamford Bridge with Pellegrini content with his low-profile approach He said: “I don’t talk about what other managers say. That is not my duty. That is not my way of thinking about the profession.

Sunday Pools GuideIn Week 16Race Chelsea Lose Ground Title

Westbrom; Sheffwed For “X” Says DR. J.K. POOLS

A critical X-ray of the 49 programmed fixtures of this week 16, matches to be played on 2nd/3rd November 2013. I have soft spot for an “X” must between WESTBROM v Crystal P at 8 and Sheffwed vs Reading at 19.

Both are based on the sequence of across and form draw formula base on coup on.

Picking up Westbrom vs Crystal P at 8, this game is pairing with Arsenal vs Liverpool at No. 1 on coupon. It is definately for one draw.

Also, on coupon, Sheffwed vs Reading is indisputably standing on its own based on In-fra-draw sequence.

In summary No. 1, 8 and 19 for two draws must in the local coupon.

A visit to League Division one I fancy Bristol C vs Oldham at 21, Crewe vs Bradford C at 24, Rotherham vs Colchester at 29 and Shrewsbury vs Sheffutd at 30 for two draws must.

A visit to Division two Burton A vs Morecambe at 34, Chesterfield vs Scuntrope at 37 and Portmouth vs Exeter at 42 for one draw.

In the Scottish Division, the best inseparable pair is Hearts vs St. Johnstone at 46 and St. Mirren vs Rosscoenty at 49.

All readers of this SUNDAY OBSERVER Pools Guide should as from this week 16, keep weekly records in order to see the wonders of Dr. J.K Pools.

I shall celebrate my 46th years as a pool Analyst in Newspapers.

Please watch out!

8 Hot Line; 07039275802 8 Treble Chance 1. Arsenal 2. Westbrom 3. Sheffwed 4. Bristol C 5. Hearts 6. St. Mirren 7. Rotherham 8. Shrewsbury

vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

Liverpool Crystal P Reading Oldham St. Johnstone Rosscountry Colchester Sheffutd

0-0 0-0 1-1 1-1 2-2 2-2 3-3 3-3

3 Hot Pairs; (A) 29-30, (B) 8-19, (C) 34-37.

Good luck says Dr. J.K Pools, Box 34, Irrua or opposite Police Station Irrua, Edo State.

Arsenal finished the Eagles off as Aaron Ramsey picked out Olivier Giroud, who buried his header to seal the three points.

Arsenal stay top of the Premier

League for another weekend, while Palace are second bottom and could drop further if Sunderland beat Newcastle on Sunday.

Wenger Wouldn’t Rule Out Fergie Retirement U-Turn ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger on Friday said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Alex Ferguson go back on his decision to retire.

Former Manchester United manager Ferguson quit Old Trafford at the end of last season after 26 and a half years in charge.

The Scot was back in the headlines this week with the publication of an updated autobiography which included a number of stinging rebukes aimed at the likes of David Beckham, Roy Keane, Steven Gerrard and Rafael Benitez.

Wenger has his own dedicated chapter in the book, entitled ‘Competing with Wenger’ much of which is centred around the infamous ‘pizzagate’ at Old Trafford in October 2004 when United ended the Gunners’ 49match unbeaten Premier League run.

The Gunners boss had a spikey relationship with Ferguson at times, but they are more friendly these days.

And Wenger, now the longestserving manager in the Premier League following Ferguson’s retirement, is not certain it will be easy for his old rival to just simply walk away forever and the Frenchman suggested he could even change his mind in the next six months.

“In six months we will know more about that (whether Ferguson will return to football).

You cannot rule it completely out,” said Wenger ahead of his side’s Premier League fixture at

Crystal Palace yesterday.

“It is difficult to take a drug for 30 years and suddenly get rid of it.”

However, after witnessing the storm of controversy that greeted Ferguson’s book, Wenger has no intention of writing his own memoirs just yet.

“We are in a job that is a good teacher of humility, because we have to accept that everybody can judge our job at any moment without completely knowing all the ingredients of our job,” he said.

“But it is part of it, with the positive and the negative.

“Sometimes they give us credit we don’t deserve as well, but we have to take both sides.

“It looks like Ferguson had prepared his book while he was managing - I suspect he had written some of it at home at night, remembering things and thinking: ‘that goes into my book!’.”

Sir Alex Ferguson

THE SUNDAY

CMYK

32

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

Gov Oshiomhole Eulogises Late Revenue Board PS

By ADAMS OYIBOKE

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole presenting a condolence letter to Mrs. Victoria Okundia and her son Adetokunbo during the service of songs of late Mr. Sunday Okundia, the Permanent Secretary Board of Internal Revenue in Benin City over the weekend. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO ESERE.

EDO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the weekend said the late Permanent Secretary, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue Services Elder Sunday Nosakhare Okundia was a hard working resourceful, honest and transparent Civil Servant whose vaccum could hardly be filled.

Government Oshiomhole made this known during the funeral service held in honour of the departed permanent secretary along Oko-Ogba Road yesterday in Benin City.

According to Governor Oshiomhole “Elder Sunday Nosakhare Okundia, led a good life because he was a resourceful, committed, honest, dedicated and transparent Civil Servant.

His discipline, hard working and transparency is unparalleled

Raise Subsidy Of All Farm Inputs To 80 Per Cent, Commissioner Urges FG

By DOROTHY EGBOBAMWONYI

EDO State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdul Oroh has appealed to the Federal Government to raise the subsidy of all farm inputs to 80% to enable farmers especially the small holders benefit from the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) under the Agricultural Transformation Programme.

Hon. Abdul Oroh made the has done a letter to be present appeal recently while flagging to the office of the Federal off a two-week redemption of Director to consider and act (Oil Palm) farm inputs exercise upon the request made on behalf at the oil palm nursery site at of the farmers in the state Edo Agricultural Development especially the small holders to Programme (ADP) Oko, Ogba have the subsidy on farm inputs Road, Benin City. raised to 80%, adding that Emphasizing that oil palm though the farmers are aware of occupies a key position the relevance of farm inputs, amongst other crops the state is they cannot afford them. blessed with, the commissioner The commissioner said 11/2 informed that in collaboration bag of fertilizer and other with the federal government chemicals would be given to 76,000 oil palm seedlings are farmers at subsidized rate for being raised to be given free of the next two weeks and urged charge next year to farmers who all oil palm farmers who got registered and were captured in their GES messages on their the farmers Enumeration mobile phones to proceed to Exercise. their various redemption centres He disclosed that the Ministry with their money for the purchase of the items.

Also speaking, the General Manager, Tree Crop Unit, Mr. Amos Erahbor said the tree crop unit of the ministry is responsible for the raising of tree crops for the state which are distributed to farmers at subsidized rates and sometimes free depending on the programme.

Mr. Erhabor informed that 148,341 oil palm seedlings were raised by the Tree Crop Units, and other operators out of which 30,000 were raised by the unit and enjoined farmers in the state to utilize the opportunity to support the ministry and government in all ways they can to make the dream of Edo becoming the food basket of the nation a reality.

On his part, the state Federal Director, Mr. Wellington Omoragbon said the exercise was being done across the country and also informed that each farmer in Edo State would be given 50 seedlings each when it shall be distributed by

next year free of charge, adding that the Federal Government was committed to ensuring food security in all the states of the

federation which he said necessitated the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of Mr. President.

IGUORIAKHIA – Edo State government has been commended for paying its counterpart fund to State Employment Expenditure For Result (SEEFORD) for the accreditation of HND courses at the College of Agriculture Iguoriakhia in Ovia South West Local Government Area.

The Acting Provost of the College, Dr. Friday Obasogie made this known in a chat with newsmen in Benin City.

He noted that paying of this counterpart fund would enable the school provide necessary infrastructure in the college that would enable officials of the

National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) inspect facilities on ground for accreditation of courses.

Courses for accreditation he disclosed include Higher National Diploma (HND) in Crop Production Technology, Animal Production Technology and Agric Extension Technology adding that as soon as all the HND courses are accredited in the college, the general activities in the college would be expanded. Dr. Obasogie further disclosed that NBTE has given approval to the college to run additional courses in Horti Cultural Technology at ND level stressing that college

Edo Govt Commended Over Funding Of College Of Agriculture

Couple In Kirikiri For Attempted Murder

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM A COUPLE, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon are now cooling their feets in the Kirikiri maximum prison, Lagos for allegedly stabbing their neighbour, Miss Happiness Andrew during a quarrel over dustbin at their residence, 4, Modupe Ayode Street, Araromi area of IyanaIpaja, Lagos.

The victim, who has been hospitalised, was allegedly stabbed in the neck and face with a broken bottle and knife respectively by the couple, following a little

misunderstanding.

Eye witness narrated that when the victim was simultaneously stabbed, she fell down almost unconscious as blood gushed profusely from her neck and face, but other neighbours quickly rushed her to Ajowa Hospital, Araromi, where the doctor and nurses in the hospital battled to save her life.

The police arrested the man and his wife who hail from Edo State, and charged them to court.

Happiness, who is a security guard working at an eatery at Tollgate area, narrated to our

reporter on her hospital bed what happened on the fateful day at the two-storey building where she lives with her sister.

According to her, there was a misunderstanding over the issue of refuse being dumped in her sister ’s dustbin by her neighbours after she complained about it because none of the neighbours help to throw it away when the PSP people come around.

Happiness said their neighbour, Mrs. Solomon, popularly called Mama Osas heard her complaining and reported the matter to her elder sister, which made her furious

that none can replace him, not lazy, not a thief and he gave his best to the state, Okundia has no replacement, he lamented.

He said late Elder Sunday Nosakhare Okundia played a significant role in the success of tax collection and management which has brought about developmental stride in Edo State including the Airport/OkoOgba Road.

While recalling the message

by Rev. Dr. G.C. Joseph of the Church of God Mission, Uwelu Provincial Headquarters, at the funeral service, Governor Oshiomhole admonished the family that in a matter relating to death and life, God has the final word.

He said “from time to time when men and women gathered to pray, we merely asked God for Long Life and good health.

Meanwhile, we are not able to ask for any particular number of years because I think we recognize the triviality of trying to ask God of how many years he should allocate.

“As the Pastor said, God has absolute discretion to keep our calendar,” he said. He prayed God to grant the soul of late Elder Sunday Nosakhare Okundia eternal rest in heaven.

and spoke to her rudely the following day when she came back from work.

“When my sister came back from work, she was talking to me angrily and saying that she will leave the house for us and run away since we cannot take care of her house when she is away. I did not reply her and this continued till Sunday. And when I finally challenged her, she told me what Mama Osas told her about the dustbin”, she claimed.

She explained further, “I told my sister that I did not mention anybody’s name and that I can call people to witness. I went to call one of the witnesses to

confirm what I said that day. As we were talking, Mama Osas came to the scene and was pointing her finger close to my face and saying that she was going to fight me, but I told her that there was no way I could fight with her,” she explained.

According to her, as the altercation was on, Mr. Solomon came to the scene with his 14year old boy, and thinking he wanted to call his wife to order, someone suddenly stabbed her in the neck and another by the side of her head, and she immediately fell down, bled profusely and became unconscious.

of Agriculture, Iguoriakhia was meant to train students not to be job seekers but to be self reliant and create job opportunities for others stressing that students of Agriculture are now to go through mechanised training with all the modern facilities in place.

He further disclosed that under his leadership, some projects have been put in place in the school which include screen house, five tanks of concrete fish ponds, oil mill and oil milling machines, renovation of poultry, establishment of large arable farms to facilitate teaching, research as well as the accreditation of the HND courses in the school.

Dr. Friday Obsasogie however advised the students to reciprocate the investment of the state government in the school by being law abiding and to shun all vices while on campus.

• Dr. Friday Obasogie

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